Finnish President on Ukraine's membership in EU and NATO: There can be no discussion
Photo: President of Finland Alexander Stubb (Vitalii Nosach RBC-Ukraine)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb outlined three stages that, in his opinion, Ukraine must go through to achieve peace. At the Munich Security Conference (MSC) he emphasized that there is no debate about Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO, which should become a guarantee of its sovereignty and security.
He shared his vision of how the process of achieving peace in Ukraine could unfold. Alexander Stubb stated that, in his opinion, this process would consist of three stages.
Negotiations and ceasefire: the first stage
According to Stubb, the first stage involves preliminary negotiations, during which Ukraine needs to be re-armed, and maximum pressure must be applied to Russia, including sanctions and asset freezes. At this point, the United States may justifiably raise the issue of temporary security measures for Ukraine, but the duration of this stage remains uncertain.
Ukrainians must take the lead here and Europe will support them, noted the politician, adding that the United States should act as the final authority, supporting Ukraine in achieving its goals.
The second stage envisions a ceasefire agreement, which Stubb emphasized is not a peace process but only a temporary measure.
The ceasefire should include border demarcation and international monitoring. During this period, other measures would be discussed, such as prisoner exchanges, the return of kidnapped children, and potential sanctions.
Stubb stated, that if Russia tries to attack again, Ukraine should automatically become a NATO member, indicating that this should be a last resort measure.
Finnish experience and Ukraine’s future
He also pointed out that key stages in the peace process should guarantee Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Stubb cited the example of World War II, when Finland preserved its sovereignty but lost part of its territory and freedom to choose foreign political alliances.
Stubb emphasized, that there are two red lines beyond which no discussion is possible – Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO. He also assured that Ukrainians are already negotiating EU membership, and in the future, Ukraine will become part of NATO.
According to Stubb’s statement, the ultimate goal is the full recognition of Ukraine as a sovereign European state with guaranteed security and NATO membership.
It is worth recalling that Ukraine has an irreversible path to NATO, which is the most effective way to guarantee peace not only in Europe but in the entire Euro-Atlantic space, as stated by Lemmi.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also emphasized that Ukraine's future lies within the Alliance. According to her, maintaining the prospect of NATO membership is not only a strategically important decision but also an economically advantageous one, as involving a large number of military resources will be significantly more expensive.
Meanwhile, the British minister stressed that even after achieving peace, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not abandon his aggressive intentions. He mentioned that, together with the United States, allies will negotiate security guarantees for Ukraine at the appropriate time.
