Finnish President Emphasizes: Security Guarantees for Ukraine Are Impossible Without Real Military Strength
Finnish President Saul Stubb has openly stated the importance of strong security guarantees for Ukraine, stressing that they must include the actual capacity to fight Russia in case of renewed aggression from Moscow.
According to him, the security assurances currently discussed within the so-called coalition of willing nations should be backed by real military might, because without it, any guarantees remain declarative and will not protect Ukrainian sovereignty.
Stubb emphasized that the initiative on guarantees is emerging following the signing of a future agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which Moscow will not have veto rights over.
He pointed out that these guarantees should act as a genuine deterrent for Russia, and their credibility depends on Europe and the West providing appropriate military and political pressure.
Moreover, Finland’s initiative gained momentum amid tense diplomatic negotiations, including high-level discussions with world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron.
After last week’s meeting in Paris, information was revealed about support from 26 countries to establish international security forces in Ukraine, capable of acting on land, sea, and air.
However, the main question remains: will these agreements materialize into tangible commitments capable of changing the battlefield situation? This is where the key problem lies—many European countries still lack the political will to commit to such measures.
Most tend to offer assurances rather than concrete guarantees to avoid direct confrontation with Russia.
Stubb stressed that without demonstrating real power, guarantees are meaningless.
Additionally, he noted that he has been actively involved in negotiations, maintaining personal contacts with U.S.
President Donald Trump, which have helped build mutual understanding and trust.
Despite some tough rhetoric from Trump regarding Putin, no concrete actions have been taken yet.
The progress is slow, and while there is some movement, a definitive resolution remains elusive.
His recent visit to Kyiv and meeting with President Zelensky gave him further confidence in Ukraine’s ability to sustain a long-term conflict if necessary.
Meanwhile, the prospect of Zelensky’s meeting with Putin remains unlikely, as Moscow insists on conditions Kyiv cannot accept without concessions.
Stubb concludes that negotiations with Putin are currently very difficult, and that Moscow will likely only sit at the negotiating table once defeat becomes unavoidable for Russia.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining diplomatic dialogue and hope for a swift, fair peace—though current realities suggest the process will take months at least.