The Finnish Prime Minister, Petri Orpo, in response to Donald Trump's recent actions as President of the United States in support of Russia in the Ukraine war, said that these actions are "illogical." Orpo emphasized in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the European Council meeting in Brussels that Trump should pay attention to his real allies in Europe.
Addressing Trump
Orpo pointed out that Finland and the United States are in NATO, saying, "We are allies, and the biggest threat to NATO is Russia. Therefore, there is no logic in these actions." He also referred to the concerns of many of Ukraine's allies who are worried about the announcement of a diesel supply agreement with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and potential restrictions on Kyiv's access to the military information and technologies it needs.
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Orpo added, "My message to him [Trump] is that we are allies. I have no answers, but I have many questions." He also referred to the concerns of Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, who has expressed worries about the loss of U.S. support benefiting Russia.
Consequences of the Trump-Putin Agreement
Trump's actions, including an agreement to release Russian diesel to the market, could lead to increased revenues for Russia from fuel sales, giving the country more capacity to finance the war. Orpo stated, "The sky is open for Russia, and they need more military support. Also, the situation is dangerous due to the recent agreement between Trump and Putin." He emphasized the importance of military aid and air defense for Ukraine.
Orpo also mentioned possible reasons for Trump's change in approach towards Ukraine, saying, "It seems these actions are for domestic reasons and due to the U.S. midterm elections on November 3." He clarified that although the amount of Russian diesel that may be sold to the United States is not very large, it is still concerning.
The Finnish Prime Minister also stated that European leaders must support Ukraine with weapons and money, even if they cannot rely on the United States. He added, "Today, we need to find a solution to support Ukraine, especially this winter and next year." Orpo referred to Finland's and Sweden's efforts to open discussions about using Russian financial assets that are blocked in European banks, stating that the best solution is to utilize these assets.
Currently, European leaders are discussing their long-term budget, and some are concerned about next year's elections in Europe, which could disrupt the negotiation process. Orpo said, "The longer the budget negotiations take, the more difficulties we will face." He also mentioned the elections in Finland in April 2027, stating that his party is facing challenges in the polls.
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