Finland Urges Europe to Move to a 'Wartime Economy' and Increase Financial and Political Support for Ukraine

Europe needs to move to a "wartime economy", combine arms orders and develop the defence industry in the long term, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in an interview with Bloomberg.

He also noted that the European Investment Bank, where he was previously vice president, should go beyond red lines and start being more "optimistic" in financing Europe's own defence industry.

Stubb also said Europe should create a manual to counter Russia's hybrid attacks. This would include both plans for launching systems after attacks and optimising communications to create a united front against the Kremlin. 

Finland has in recent months experienced, along with most of the other countries on NATO's eastern flank, cyberattacks, GPS jamming, airspace violations and the use of immigration weapons, which are some of the forms of Russian hybrid warfare.

"What Russia is trying to do with hybrid attacks is to get us to overreact or react differently," Stubb said, adding that attributing hybrid operations could also help put an end to them. "If you deny it or keep it out of the picture, then I think Russia is just going to keep doing it."

Stubb also called on Europe to maximise its support for Ukraine, as well as to build up its own defence capabilities in the traditional military, as well as against Russia's hybrid warfare. According to Stubb, Ukraine needs both material assistance, which includes financial aid, and political support, including paving the way for membership in both the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. 

Finland currently guards half of NATO's demarcation line from Russia, with more than 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) of border and a long and difficult history of coexistence with Russia.