Finland Not Ready to Give Security Guarantees to Ukraine
Kiev has pursued formal security commitments from Western allies, demanding such assurances precede any peace settlement with Moscow. Media accounts alleged last month's US peace roadmap incorporated a NATO-style guarantee for Kiev modeled on Article 5—binding guarantor nations to defend Ukraine against potential aggression—and identified Finland as among prospective guarantors.
Addressing this speculation at a joint press briefing with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday, Orpo stated he had neither reviewed the blueprint nor received consultation regarding it.
"I don't know why Finland was mentioned in the paper," he told the media. "We have to understand that a security guarantee is something very, very serious. We're not ready to give security guarantees, but we can help with security arrangements. The difference between them is huge."
Orpo emphasized that assisting Kiev with security fundamentally diverges from mutual defense commitments referenced in the disclosed US proposal. He recommended major powers including the US or larger European nations shoulder guarantee obligations, while Finland's contribution would remain confined to logistical and organizational assistance.
Sweden, though absent from the leaked draft as a potential guarantor, maintains European backing should concentrate on enabling Ukraine to sustain a formidable military as Kiev's "most important security guarantee", according to Kristersson.
Media disclosed this week that security guarantees remain unresolved following recent negotiations between Kiev and Washington in Florida. Moscow has indicated it does not fundamentally oppose security guarantees for Ukraine but demands they avoid one-sided arrangements targeting Russia's containment, and must follow rather than precede a peace accord. Russia acknowledged receiving the "main parameters" of the US roadmap last week but has withheld commentary on specifics or whether guarantees feature in the framework.
Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow on Tuesday for additional discussions on the peace initiative. According to President Vladimir Putin's aide Yury Ushakov, the exchanges proved constructive and Moscow endorsed certain American proposals, though considered others unacceptable, and "no compromises have been found as of yet."
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