Stubb called on Europe to change its approach to supporting Ukraine
Europe needs to move away from the notion that it alone is providing aid to Ukraine. According to Stubb, the focus should shift from Ukraine’s needs to the role and significance that Ukraine itself holds for Europe.
This was stated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb at a press conference following talks with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague on May 4, according to aUkrinform correspondent.
“If I had only one message today, instead of talking about what Ukraine needs from Europe, perhaps we should start thinking about what we in Europe need from Ukraine… We in Europe must get rid of the idea that only we are helping Ukraine,” the Finnish leader emphasized.
He is convinced that Europe must ask itself how Ukraine can help it. That is why, according to Stubb, he has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership from the very beginning.
The politician noted that he would like to see Ukraine, one of the strongest military forces in the world, join NATO.
“There is no army in Europe or the United States, for that matter, capable of waging modern warfare the way Ukraine is doing it now,” the Finnish president explained, noting that this is precisely why Ukrainians are actually helping in the Middle East.
Europe needs to start working with Ukraine with the understanding that this country will be European not only during this war but also after it, Stubb emphasized.
He cited the following figures: Europe has approximately 2 million soldiers, not counting reservists; Russia has approximately 1.3 million; and Ukraine has 800,000 soldiers.
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