Finland’s Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto says that there is still a chance for a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis.
Finland will not send weapons to Ukraine as it faces the possibility of an invasion by Russia, says Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green).
Speaking on Yle TV1’s breakfast television show on Tuesday, Haavisto also said there was still hope for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, even though United States intelligence sources have suggested Russia could be planning to attack on Wednesday, 16 February.
Haavisto however emphasised the continuation of diplomatic efforts, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Moscow on Tuesday.
He further pointed to the fact that President Vladimir Putin met his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, which suggests that there remains a twin-track approach, with diplomatic efforts ongoing alongside Russia’s troop buildup on Ukraine’s borders.
“Sure, you get the feeling that they are interested in the offers the United States put on the table,” said Haavisto. “They are also positive things for Russia.”
“Hopefully this negotiation path will continue. Of course you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
“Finland is not a big weapons exporter”
Finland is not about to send weapons shipments to Ukraine, according to Haavisto.
“Finland is not any kind of major arms exporter,” said Haavisto. “Every shipment is handled individually here. In principle we have said that we don’t export weapons to conflict zones.”
Haavisto said that Finland had supported Ukraine financially since 2014, however, and the government was considering what more help to give.
He also shot down suggestions that the lack of weapons exports was down to fear of the Russian reaction.
“Every country will surely help according to their resources,” said Haavisto. “When I saw Chancellor Scholz’s statements yesterday in Kyiv, they were along similar lines, in that they will focus on humanitarian aid.”
The foreign minister added that ministry officials had contacted nearly all of the 120 Finns in Ukraine who have made a travel notification. Some had already left, some were about to leave, and some had decided to stay in Ukraine despite Finland’s advice to leave.
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