Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has said that Ukraine has every right to join NATO.
She said this in an interview with Yle during a visit to the city of Oulu, Ukrinform reports.
“Ukraine’s place is still and very well may be in NATO in the future,” Valtonen said.
She stressed that Ukraine must be allowed to decide on its own territory and choose its own security arrangements.
The minister added that since the Ukrainian army is currently one of the strongest in the world, it would also be in NATO’s interest to have Ukraine as a member “one day.”
At the same time, Valtonen pointed to differences between the United States and the European Union in their approaches to the war. She noted that European leaders firmly believe Ukraine must not be pressured into territorial concessions.
“Ukraine does not need the West’s help to surrender. Ukraine needs the West’s help to show that we stand by our principles and our common values, and that we support Ukraine,” she said.
Commenting on Donald Trump’a recent remarks that Ukraine and Russia should work toward a peace deal, Valtonen expressed doubt such a plan could be realized. In her opinion, too many issues remain unresolved to negotiate while full-scale hostilities are ongoing.
The minister stressed that security guarantees are needed even before a ceasefire or truce is reached. She added that Finland knows from experience that Russia’s promises cannot be trusted, and a document pledging Moscow not to escalate military action would carry little weight.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Source: Finnish foreign minister: Ukraine has full right to NATO membership
