00:00I'm wondering based on what you heard there from the president if you're concerned that he is
00:05turning away once again from Volodymyr Zelensky. Well thank you so much for having me. Yeah well
00:12let's see what happens. I think it's quite clear that Russia's Putin is quite impressed by what's
00:22going on at this moment. He admires President Trump. He admires basically the military power that the U.S.
00:31can project. But at the same time he's the one really despising the American way of life. I would
00:39say the European way of life as well which you know grants freedom to to all individuals. And this is
00:46ultimately what the Ukrainian people want to achieve as well. And the president of Ukraine
00:52President Zelensky he is liable to his own people. And a peace deal which you know the Ukrainians
01:01wouldn't accept is obviously not something that he will digest easily. Sure. President Zelensky talked
01:09about this moment and the support that he says he needs from Europe and the United States earlier
01:14today. Let's listen to what he said. Things which are very important for today. I think unity
01:19between Europe and Ukraine and also unity between Europe, Ukraine and the United States. There are
01:27some things which we can't manage without Americans. Things which we can't manage without Europe.
01:34That's why we need to make some important decisions. If you're having trouble hearing us on the radio
01:41Zelensky saying there are some things which we cannot manage without Americans. Things we cannot
01:45manage without Europe. So that said Minister, I'm curious your thoughts about the administration's
01:51national security strategy that argues that Europe's cultural and political failures like
01:55immigration and censorship pose a threat to the continent's way of life. What what do you make of
02:01the president's posture towards Europe? Well, first of all, the European countries are democracies and in our
02:09constituencies, our people decide how to rule our countries. In Finland, the share of people with foreign descent is about eight percent. And I understand in the United States, it's like 15 percent.
02:22So Europe is organized as smaller countries within the European Union. The European Union is our way of organizing ourselves.
02:35It enjoys around 60 to 70 percent of approval rate among the population, which is pretty, pretty high.
02:44But I wouldn't, you know, in a way, I think it's fair that within the search, say the family of the transatlantic relationship, that we are also able to criticize each other. I don't have a problem with that. But at the same time, I just hope that the strong link we have will also
03:06continue in the future because at the end of the day, the world would look so much worse if the free world didn't exist or if it didn't hold together.
03:17Well, I'm happy to hear you refer to us as a family minister. And I'd like to just zero in a little bit more closely on Finland's relationship
03:25with the United States because your president, Stubb, I should say, has played golf with President Trump.
03:31They've talked frequently and have developed a bit of a relationship. How close are they at this point?
03:36And to what extent has that helped Finland in trying to keep the president committed to European peace?
03:43Well, I guess it has been a very good avenue both ways in transferring ideas and messages. And of course, golf diplomacy apparently works.
03:55At the same time, of course, Finland has very strong ties with the United States on so many levels in trade, in technology, in science.
04:07And then, of course, through strong investments into defense and deterrence. But at the same time, Finland is part of the European Union.
04:17And we would hope that there was a possibility very soon in the future to really deepen our trade ties between Europe and the U.S. Europe has not imposed any tariffs on the United States.
04:35There's 15 on Europe. There are many things we should try and work out together. Reducing red tape is an interest on both sides.
04:44But we should do that in friendship. And at the same time, we should impose tariffs and sanctions on the true adversaries we face as the free people.
04:55And that is certainly Russia and their friends. I'm a little bit worried now, to be honest, what the next days and weeks will bring in the sense that, of course, we, just like the Ukrainians, want to have peace as soon as possible.
05:12But not at any cost, because certainly if this war is in Trump's war, which it totally isn't, the peace will be Trump's peace.
05:21And I'm sure President Trump is interested in having a lasting peace. And if it's not just, then it typically wouldn't last.
05:29Really interesting to hear you talk about that. And we'll remind our audience that Finland shares 830 miles land border with Russia.
05:40When you talk about your worry there, is there is there a scenario when you consider the options of the outcome of this war that could make Finland less safe?
05:49Well, you see, we had the NATO ministerial last week in Brussels and within the alliance, we agreed to 100 percent that the largest threat that the transatlantic alliance is facing.
06:04And unfortunately for the long term is Russia. And that means that, of course, the threat that Russia is posing is not only visible in Ukraine, but it's it's actually visible in the rest of Europe as well.
06:19But I should say also in the rest of the world. I mean, if people have paid attention, Russia has been organizing military coups in Africa, for instance, to cause irregular migration.
06:30And of course, suffering for the people. Russia is active in the in the Arctic and doesn't shy away of partnering up with the other rogue states around the world.
06:43So certainly Russia is the threat to entire world peace. I'm not so worried about Finland.
06:48We have always invested very heavily in defense and deterrence. And now that Finland together with Sweden, we also joined NATO a couple of years ago.
06:57So I think the alliance is stronger than ever since also now Europe is really chipping in.
07:03But at the same time, I'm truly worried whether we understand that that we need to deter Russia.
07:12Russia is the aggressor in this war and to find lasting peace for Ukraine and for the rest of us.
07:19We need to be showing Russia some strength and we need to have Russia stay within its borders.
07:27Yes. Right. Well, that's and to that end, you've argued that even after a peace agreement, Russia may well remain a threat.
07:34And history certainly reinforces that as Europe seeks a way to use frozen Russian central bank assets to fund the rebuilding of Ukraine.
07:43We only have a moment left, minister. How close are we to getting an answer on that?
07:47We are very close to finding an answer to that. We will have the meeting next week of European heads of states.
07:56And we are now quite close to finding a legally and politically sustainable solution to this.
08:02And I think using the Russian central bank assets for funding the survival of Ukraine is not only morally, but in so many other ways also the right thing to do.
Be the first to comment