On the delivery of Mar's fighter jets to Ukraine: “We cannot escape the discussion”
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (sd) will participate in the EU summit in Brussels. Marin commented before the meeting that Ukraine needs heavy equipment, such as fighter jets, to combat Russia. Prime Minister Marin will participate in the EU summit in Brussels. Council of European Unionkreeta.karvala@iltalehti.fijari.hanska@iltalehti.fi
Yesterday at 12:18 (modified yesterday at 13 :14)
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (sd) took a stand during the EU summit on the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.
– Discussions about, for example, the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine, air defense, are held extensively at the European level with partner countries. We can't escape this discussion in Finland either, but this is also in front of us. Ukraine needs a variety of support and I think we should be able to provide that support, Marin said.
Foreign and security policy sources confirmed to Iltalehti on Thursday that the Ukrainian government has submitted a request to Finland to discuss the possibility of getting Hornet fighters to Ukraine.
The request also concerns the United States, from which a re-export permit would be required.
Helsingin Sanomat was the first to report on the matter.
Under the summit Marin said he could not disclose confidential discussions between different countries regarding the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. He didn't even want to comment on which ministry Ukraine's request for Hornet fighters has gone to.
– We have received requests for various materials that Ukraine needs. We are currently preparing 14 arms aid packages, Marin said.
The request for discussion in itself is not considered surprising by the Finnish administration, as Ukraine has also expressed a wish for Sweden to receive Gripen fighters.
The office of the President of the Republic commented to Iltalehti on Thursday that Ukraine has not been in contact with the President of the Republic or the office of the President regarding the Hornet matter.
–Material requests traditionally go through the defense administration, the president's office stated.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Ukraine on March 10. Stock photo. Pool /Ukrainian Presidentia, ZumaWire/MVPHOTOS
According to the Constitution, foreign policy is led by the President of the Republic in cooperation with the Government Council.
A question that has been raised in the public debate by the Hornet case team , is related to whether Prime Minister Sanna Marin (sd) acted according to the practices of foreign and security policy leadership during her visit to Ukraine in March, because, for example, the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö or the Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (center) didn't know the Hornet issue would come up.
Supporting Ukraine
Prime Minister Marin met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in March in Kyiv. Stock photo. President Of Ukraine Office, ZumaWire/MVPHOTOS
The two-day EU summit will try to find concrete ways to respond to Russia's war of destruction in Ukraine.
The guest of the meeting is the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi via video connection.
Supporting Ukraine includes, among other things, increasing arms deliveries and the possible increase of the EU's peace fund, which coordinates aid to Ukraine, by 3.5 billion euros, which Finland supports. The tightening of sanctions on Russia is also being discussed, especially in terms of how sanctions evasion could be better prevented.
Another central theme of the EU summit is the economy and European competitiveness, which is overshadowed by the international trade war.
Kaikkonen: Ukraine has asked for Hornet help – “We need Hornets for our own use in the next few years” 23.3. 15:09 For Finland, the NATO seal: President Niinistö signed the NATO laws on 23.3. 14:11
