Finland warns Russia prepares next phase of military aggression
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen (Photo: Getty Images)
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen believes that Russia is amassing troops near the EU borders and preparing for a second phase of military aggression, reports CNN.
Häkkänen is convinced that even after the war in Ukraine ends, Russia will still pose a threat to Europe.
“Russia is really doing their military build-up for the second phase of their potential aggression… there are real threats for NATO after the Ukrainian war,” he said on the sidelines of the NATO North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels on October 15.
Häkkänen pointed to Russia’s military modernization and the buildup of forces near our borders as signs of this threat.
Ahead of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting, Häkkänen announced that Finland will join PURL - the US weapons procurement program for Ukraine.
He also stated that information on a new Finnish aid package for Ukraine will be released later this week.
Finland’s aid to Ukraine
According to RBC-Ukraine, the previous aid package from Finland to Ukraine totaled nearly €200 million, which Ukraine received in January 2025.
The total value of defense equipment delivered by Finland to Ukraine now stands at €2.5 billion.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Finland has actively supported Ukraine in humanitarian, financial, and military-technical areas.
In spring 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Finnish President Olli Stubb signed a bilateral security agreement. This agreement provides for long-term support from Finland and deeper cooperation between the two countries.
