Finland’s Policy on Supporting Ukraine during Full-Scale Russian Aggression

Abstract

The article examines the issues of support for Ukraine by the Republic of Finland in the face of full-scale Russian aggression. The official position of Finland regarding the beginning of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine in 2014, in particular regarding the annexation of Crimea, as well as after the start of a large-scale war in 2022, is analyzed. It is noted that Finland was one of the co-authors of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, adopted on March 27, 2014 as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed occupation of the territory of Ukraine, namely the Crimean Peninsula. Finland also was one of the co-authors of the UN General Assembly resolution of March 2, 2022 condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and demanding the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the cancellation of the decision to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics. At the same time, Finland supported the UN General Assembly resolution of April 7, 2022, which suspended Russia’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council.

It was noted that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, support for the idea of joining NATO increased sharply in Finland. On May 18, 2022, the country officially submitted an application and less than a year later, on April 4, 2023, Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance, becoming its 31^st member.

It is emphasized that on April 3, 2024, as part of the visit of the President of Finland to Kyiv, an Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support between Ukraine and Finland was signed by the presidents of the two countries. This is a bilateral agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine, which defines priority areas of bilateral security cooperation in the military and non-military spheres, including political, financial, humanitarian, etc.

Finland believes that Ukraine’s security is part of European security, and Ukraine has the sovereign right to choose its own security measures. Finland provides all possible support for reforms aimed at realizing Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, including membership in both the European Union and NATO. Finland emphasizes that Ukraine’s future membership in NATO will make an effective contribution to peace and security in Europe and confirms that Ukraine is an integral part of Euro-Atlantic and global security. Finland also confirms that Ukraine is part of the European family and that its future lies within the European Union. Finland supports the decision of the European Council, adopted in December 2023, to open negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

The paper analyzes in detail various aspects of the support provided to Ukraine by the Finnish government in the face of full-scale Russian aggression, including military and financial support, demining of Ukrainian territories, support for energy infrastructure, humanitarian aid, sanctions pressure on Russia and its supporters, etc. It is noted that Finland has joined the EU’s collective initiatives to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.