Finnish President Alexander Stubb underscored that Finland sits on the western edge of Russia’s reach and dismissed the idea of supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine at the current moment. He conveyed this in a televised interview on the Yle network.
There is no immediate need for such armaments, Stubb noted. He reminded viewers that Finland remains a frontline state with a NATO border stretching 1,340 kilometers along Russia, and that the country has a clear stake in defending its territory. Among the responsibilities he highlighted is a capability to contribute to Ukraine’s defense in various practical ways, while continuing to prioritize deterring any potential aggression directed at Finland itself.
Finland’s stance on arms transfers to the war zone and its broader security posture reflects a careful balancing act intended to support allied goals without escalating risks on its own soil.
On August 26, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, announced that Moscow had requested a Security Council discussion focused on Western arms supplies to Ukraine. He indicated that the meeting would explore other facets of the Ukrainian crisis that the West might find inconvenient, signaling a desire to reframe the international dialogue around the issue.
There have been prior instances when Finland increased ammunition production in response to the Ukraine crisis, signaling a readiness to adjust its defense posture as regional security dynamics evolve.