Finnish president calls for diplomatic efforts, rejects calls for troops in Ukraine

Finnish President Alexander Stubb commented on the ongoing debate about sending military personnel to Ukraine, stating that the topic has "completely deviated from the course" and has turned into a symbolic discussion.

His remarks, made during an interview with Die Welt newspaper on April 5, sought to clarify Finland's stance on military involvement in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Stubb emphasized that the deployment of ground forces is currently not on Finland's agenda, noting that there are "many other ways" to support Ukraine. He also added that European troops, if deployed, would number between 20,000 and 60,000, a figure he described as unlikely to make a significant difference in the broader context of the conflict.

"I don't think it would make much difference," Stubb said, suggesting that achieving a truce should be the immediate priority, followed by negotiations for a peaceful settlement. "Only after that should we talk about peacekeepers," he stated, underlining the importance of diplomacy over military action at this stage.

The Finnish president also placed responsibility on Ukraine and its military, urging that the greatest burden of responsibility rests with the Ukrainian side. Additionally, he called on Washington to provide security guarantees to Kyiv, further highlighting the importance of international support beyond direct military involvement.

Stubb also discussed the long-term prospects for peace in Ukraine, asserting that the automatic membership of Ukraine in NATO would be the only way to achieve a "long-term and just peace" should the conflict reignite.

These remarks come amidst growing concerns over the potential deployment of international peacekeepers in Ukraine, an idea that has gained traction in some quarters. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had previously warned against the deployment of NATO troops, citing the risk of a direct confrontation between Russia and the Western alliance.

On March 27, Zakharova strongly opposed the idea of Western peacekeepers being stationed in Ukraine, stressing that such a move could lead to a direct clash between Russia and NATO. Furthermore, French politician Florian Philippot reported on April 2 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had discussed the possibility of meeting with representatives from several countries to explore the idea of sending troops to Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva