Peace in Ukraine Won’t End Threat — Europe Must Prepare, Says Finnish PM

The Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, warned that even after a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, Moscow could redeploy troops to NATO’s borders. 

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Dzerkalo tyzhnia, citing Finantial Times.

Petteri Orpo noted that after the war in Ukraine ends, Russia will not cease to be a threat; on the contrary, it will move its forces closer to NATO’s eastern flank and the borders with the Baltic states. 

He called on EU countries to show solidarity with the “frontline” states, which are sharply increasing their military spending and are already the main financial supporters of Ukraine in terms of GDP.

The Prime Minister added that even after a peaceful settlement, readiness for self-defense is necessary, as the United States is gradually reducing its involvement in European security due to other global challenges. Orpo cited Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland as examples, which plan to spend more than 5% of their GDP on defense next year, exceeding even US requirements.

Orpo emphasized that the eastern flank countries are interested in additional EU funding, including €1.5 billion of unused funds and a portion of the €130 billion allocated for defense in the next budget period.

Meanwhile, EU leaders are preparing for the summit on December 18, where they plan to make a decision on financial support for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets. Orpo stressed that this is an “important week” for Europe to demonstrate its ability not only to talk but also to act for peace on the continent.

The concern over Russia’s actions is shared across Europe, with leaders emphasizing the need for stronger collective defense. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Ukraine may continue fighting Russia for another two to three years and stressed that Western countries are underestimating the Kremlin’s threat, including cyberattacks, sabotage, and the potential use of hypersonic missiles. 

Similarly, Italian President Sergio Mattarella called for a joint European defense force to respond to Russia’s aggression, highlighting that Ukraine’s security is inseparable from Europe’s. 

As The Gaze reported earlier, according to a new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia may become a credible military threat to NATO well before the timeline projected by Western intelligence agencies.