A ten point THREAD on the situation from a country with a 1340km border with Russia: 1. The security threat is real. Putin wants to take over Ukraine, revamp the security structure of Europe & keep Finland & Sweden out of Nato. We must assume that his actions have no limits.
@alexstubb
2. Putin is driven by nostalgia and legacy. Nostalgia of historic Russia with one language, one religion and one leader. A legacy of a leader who has made ”Russia great again”. He thus sees Belarus and Ukraina as part of Russia. Won’t necessarily stop there.
3. We are beyond the point of no return. Putin has attacked three times in 14 years (2008, 2014 and 2022). The reaction of Ukraine and its people is heroic. The rest of the world (UN) is historically united against Russia. Counter measures have been firm and fast.
4. Putin has achieved in one week the exact opposite of what he wanted: i.e. the Europeanisation of Ukraine, revitalisation of the Transatlantic relationship, the rejuvenation of Nato, unity of the EU and a radical shift in support for Nato membership in Finland and Sweden.
5. Putin’s actions are causing massive harm to the Russian people. The sanctions will be as total as the isolation. No area will be speared: finance, trade, goods, services, individuals, culture, sport, energy, transport. Reserves will not last forever.
https://twitter.com/alexstubb
6. The world has thus changed. We have moved from a post Cold War era to a Hot War. A new Iron Curtain has been erected. We just don’t know exactly where and for how long. We need peace mediation and a ceasefire as soon as possible. The loss of life is immeasurable.
7. This is as much a fight about life, security and identity, as it is about ideology and way of life. Europe is now again split between an aggressive authoritarian regime and cooperative democracies. The aggressor will continue to pose a threat for the foreseeable future.
8. Putin has no option. He has to succeed. But Russia’s isolation will not change before regime change. Can happen only from the inside. Russian revolutions (1917/1991) - are copyright of Russian people. Their capacity to experince discomfort is high, but there is always a limit.
9. Lots of national and international talk of Finnish Nato membership. Never underestimate the capacity of Finns to remain calm, collected and determined in the face of adversity, threat and change. We have been here before and know what to do.
10. In the words of President
@niinisto
: ”In the midst of an acute crisis, however, it is particularly important to keep a cool head and to assess with care the impact of past and possible future changes on our security - not hesitating, but with care”. END
yle.fi
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www.iltalehti.fi
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Sen perusteella me oltaisiin nyt jo salonkikelpoisia Nato-jäseniä - siihen päälle tulisi vielä 40-50miljoonaa "toimistokuluja".