Finnish PM: We have to approve decision to support Ukraine, this is matter of trust in EU

Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo. Stock photo: Getty Images

Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo has emphasised that the decisions of the EU summit regarding Ukraine go beyond purely Ukrainian issues, and the reputation of the European Union depends on the ability of the countries to come to an agreement.

Source: Orpo in a comment to the media before the EU leaders summit in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda.

Quote: “I have one main point – it is our security, and our existence as a credible union. We need strong decisions here, we have to show our unity,” said Petteri Orpo.

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“What we decide or what we don’t decide is a clear signal to Moscow, to Kyiv, to Washington, to Beijing. And that’s why we have to decide that we support Ukraine,” the Prime Minister of Finland emphasised.

Asked by the media about how he assessed the position of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is going to block all key decisions regarding Ukraine, Orpo answered that blackmail must not be tolerated, and the member states must find a solution.

He also called compromises with Hungary in matters of the rule of law unacceptable.

Petteri Orpo added that he would also emphasise the need to develop the defence industry of EU member states, because the threat from Russia is real, and he noted that Finland is already working on increasing its production of ammunition.

“We have to do all more – as a union, as member states,” he emphasised.

Background:

• Earlier, it was reported that the EU leaders are likely to agree on allocating multi-year support to Ukraine for EUR 50 billion, as this amount will come in a package with other money, which will also benefit Hungary, which has threatened to block this aid.
• At the same time, European officials are assuming that the chances of Ukraine getting the green light for EU membership negotiations are low, given that Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister, intends to block the EU leaders’ decision.
• On 13 December, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that if the EU does not approve the decision to start accession negotiations with Ukraine due to the Hungarian blockade, it would imply that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly imposed a veto on this decision.

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