The Border Guard Service stated in September that, in its opinion, 130–260 kilometers of the more than 1,300 km border should be fenced off, primarily in the vicinity of the border crossing points. The estimated price tag of the project would be “a few hundred million euros” and it will take three to four years to complete.
“If the border authority considers that it needs such a fence to control the border in the future as well, I think we should take this proposal seriously,” Marin said. quoted by YLE.
The prime minister added that the foreign and security policy implications of the fence have already been discussed by the president and the ministerial committee on foreign and security policy.
the Treasury minister Annika Saarikko (The Center) said that the Ministry of Finance is ready to arrange funds for the project at short notice.
The parliamentary debate reflected growing concern about Russia’s actions. Recent alarming events include the “partial” mobilization announced by the Russian president and the annexation of four Ukrainian regions. Vladimir Putin. Finland and other western countries have condemned illegal unions.
Tensions have also increased due to explosions in the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream connecting Germany and Russia via the Baltic Sea.
foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (The Greens) opened the discussion by assessing that Russia is likely to step up its hybrid warfare against Western countries in the coming months. He added that the Finnish authorities are prepared for hybrid campaigns and constantly monitor hostile activities.
Finnish MPs also drew attention to the importance of continuing to support Ukraine.
“Ukraine will win this war if the West maintains its strong support and sufficient determination. Finland must take the initiative in this matter,” opined Antti Häkkänen (NCP), chairman of the defense committee of the parliament.
Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (Keski) revealed that Finland is already preparing its ninth military aid package for Ukraine. The value of its eight previous aid packages is approximately EUR 93 million.
“Decisions will be made soon,” he said. “I doubt it [the package] will be the last. We must be ready to support Ukraine for a long time.
Finland currently ranks 24th in bilateral aid commitments to Ukraine and 22nd in bilateral aid commitments in relation to gross domestic product to Ukraine. Data collected by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy between January 24 and August 3. The share of its commitments in the gross domestic product rises from 0.03 to 0.1 percent, taking into account the commitments made by the EU.
The share is clearly below the commitment of 0.9 percent by Estonia and Latvia, 0.6 percent by Poland and 0.4 percent by Lithuania and Norway.
Financial Times in September reported that White House officials have expressed frustration with slow payments of European Union aid to Kyiv. The 27-nation bloc has been urged to create a regular support mechanism to avoid arguing over logistics with each aid package.
At that time, Brussels had released only one billion of the nine billion it had promised to Ukraine in May. Another five billion euros were to be released by the end of September.
Similar calls have also come from Europe. Jeremy Shapiroresearch director at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on Monday wrote Ukraine could become a rift between the EU and the US, unless the Europeans “put their money where their mouth is”.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page