Forcing Ukraine into neutrality to resolve the ongoing conflict with Russia is unlikely to lead to peace, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen stated on Monday. She added that Russia’s history of disregarding agreements makes it an unreliable partner in any peace deal.
Finland’s Historical Context with Russia
Finland has a complex history with Russia. It gained independence from Russian rule in 1917 after more than a century under tsarist control. In 1939, Finland faced a Soviet invasion, ultimately aligning with Nazi Germany during World War II to reclaim lost territory. After the war, Finland adopted a careful neutrality policy, maintaining positive relations with its eastern neighbor to safeguard its sovereignty—a strategy known as “Finlandization.”
Now, with President-elect Donald Trump signaling intentions to end the Ukraine conflict quickly, some worry that a forced neutrality deal might be imposed on Ukraine, reminiscent of Finland’s approach. Russia has long demanded that Ukraine remain neutral, a stance that would effectively block its aspirations for NATO membership.
Finland Opposes Finlandization as a Model for Ukraine
In an interview with Reuters, Valtonen dismissed the idea of “Finlandization” for Ukraine, highlighting Finland’s own defensive efforts after World War II to maintain its independence. “I’m against it,” she said, adding, “Ukraine was neutral before they were attacked by Russia.” With Finland sharing an 810-mile border with Russia, Valtonen argued that neutrality is not a solution that would address the underlying conflict.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already led Finland and Sweden to abandon their own non-alignment policies, opting to join NATO for security.
Distrust in Russia’s Commitment to Peace
Valtonen expressed skepticism about any peace agreement involving Russia, stressing that forcing Ukraine to accept terms against its will would undermine the international system. “I really want to avoid a situation where any European country, or the United States for that matter, starts negotiating over the heads of Ukraine,” she said. She emphasized that powerful nations should not compromise the sovereignty of another country by pressuring it into unfavorable terms.
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