“Russia has a great readiness to cause immeasurable destruction” – 2024-02-21 17:41:39

On Wednesday, the government received the confidence of the parliament with 89 votes in favor, 73 against. One representative abstained and 36 representatives were absent. The vote was based on the intermediate question of the opposition parties SDP, the Left Alliance and the Greens to the government, the topic of which was “labor market chaos caused by the government”.

Before the vote, the parliament held a topical discussion about the situation in Ukraine. At the beginning of the session, the parliament held a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Speaker Jussi Halla-aho (ps) emphasized that Finland must not allow time to be on the attacker’s side.

– Russia has a great readiness to cause immeasurable destruction and suffering to others as well as to its own citizens. We can neither afford nor have the right to be tired.

Halla-aho said he hoped Russians would consider whether “the destruction of Ukrainian cities, the death and injury of hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers, the disruption of trade relations, political isolation and the closing of borders” has made Russians wealthier, happier or more respected.

Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (kok) emphasized that the issue of Ukraine has become the issue of Finns. According to Häkkänen, Finland’s forms of support for Ukraine will develop.

“The West will be tested”

In their speeches, the representatives emphasized how support for Ukraine should be continued and increased.

Pekka Toveri (kok) said in the coalition’s group speech that a change is needed to the fact that the western military support for Ukraine has been too little, came too late and was partially outdated equipment and material. From Tover, the West should increase its defense industry capacity and use it to support Ukraine.

According to Tover, Finland should also promote commitment to support Ukraine in the EU and NATO.

Held the group speech of basic Finns Miko Bergbom stressed that all of Europe must do more to support Ukraine.

– Russia is eagerly waiting for war fatigue to strike in the West, he said.

According to Bergbom, the West will be tested often and we just have to survive the trials.

“We have neither the ability nor the right to be tired,” Speaker Jussi Halla-aho said in parliament. Inka Soveri

Chairman of the SDP parliamentary group Titti Tuppurainen (sd) repeated the President of Ukraine in a group speech Volodymyr Zelenskyn comment: “Don’t ask Ukraine when the war will end. Ask yourselves why Russia can still continue it.”

According to Tuppurainen, Europe and the United States must speed up the delivery of arms aid to Ukraine and start work on the reconstruction of Ukraine. In addition, the funds confiscated from him in Russia must be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine legally and in a way that safeguards the stability of the international financial system.

Honkasalo: “Debts must be cancelled”

The center Katri Kulmuni emphasized in the group speech that supporting Ukraine must be continued resolutely, and the EU must increase sanctions against Russia and prevent their evasion.

– There are no signs of a change in Russia’s actions, but rather it seems that it is waiting for the west’s support to fade and unity to break, Kulmuni said.

The group speech of the Greens was held Oras Tynkkynen said that Russia should be held responsible for the environmental damage it has caused. According to him, the import of energy and all energy projects to Russia must be banned, and Ukraine must be supported towards EU membership.

Veronika Honkasalo said in the group speech of the Left Alliance that the party believes that support for Ukraine must be in the form of a gift.

– Ukraine’s huge debts to international institutions and states must be annulled. If this is not done, reconstruction will become even more difficult, Honkasalo said.

Harkimo: Trump is right about one thing

Having given a group speech by RKP Anders Norrbackin according to which Ukraine should be invited to the NATO summit in July. The group speech of the Christian Democrats Peter Ostman emphasized that “Ukraine must win so that the war does not spread to our borders.”

Chairman of Liike Nyt Harry “Hjallis” Harkimo was worried that Ukraine could lose the war if the US could not agree on a new aid package. Harkimo said that for him “that’s it Trump is absolutely right that Europe must take care of its own defense.”

Iltalehti followed the twists and turns of the session in live text format.