Finnish defence official rejects "Finlandisation" as model for Ukraine

Finnish Defence Minister Janne Kuusela has rejected comparisons between Ukraine’s current situation and Finland’s Cold War-era policy of neutrality, saying he would not want Kyiv to face a similar outcome.

In comments to Ukrinform, Kuusela said the period often described as “Finlandisation” was not a source of pride for Finland, but rather a survival strategy imposed after the country’s wars with the Soviet Union during 1939–1944.

According to Kuusela, Finland managed to preserve its independence and market economy during the Cold War, but at the cost of significant limitations on its sovereignty. He noted that Helsinki was unable to fully integrate with Western institutions, including NATO, while the Soviet Union maintained substantial influence over Finnish political decisions.

“We are not proud of that period. It was a way to survive under those circumstances,” Kuusela said.

The Finnish official expressed hope that Ukraine would retain both its independence and full sovereignty, adding that Ukrainians had “earned this through their struggle and resilience.”

He also described it as a “historical injustice” if Ukraine were denied the right to determine its own future.

The concept of “Finlandisation” emerged during the Cold War to describe Finland’s policy of neutrality and limited foreign policy autonomy in order to maintain stable relations with the Soviet Union after losing territory in wartime conflicts.

Kuusela’s remarks come after analysts at JPMorgan Chase suggested “Finlandisation” as one possible scenario for ending the war in Ukraine, involving neutrality and restrictions on the country’s military capabilities.

By Sabina Mammadli