"Every new attack by Russia only strengthens support for Ukraine," says Finland's defense minister
Russia’s massive attacks are not weakening international support for Ukraine; on the contrary, they are strengthening the allies’ resolve to increase aid to Kyiv.
According to the head of the Finnish Defense Ministry, every new shelling only confirms the need for continued support for Ukraine.
“Every time Russia carries out some horrific attack on Ukraine, we increase our support. This will only strengthen support for Ukraine,” Hykkänen emphasized.
He stressed that the Kremlin’s attempts to intimidate Ukraine’s allies will not have the desired effect.
“If Russia is trying to intimidate or scare those who support Ukraine, that is a miscalculation,” the minister noted.
Hakkinen also reported that three new defense contracts have been signed in recent weeks and months, but expanding the defense industry’s production capacity remains a key challenge.
According to him, every country faces its own challenges in arms production. He noted that Finland has invested for many years in ensuring the security of its supply chains, adhering to the concept of self-reliance in defense.
At the same time, the minister said, many countries are heavily dependent on international supply chains for raw materials and components, which makes it difficult to rapidly ramp up military production.
In Hykkänen’s view, one of the most effective solutions is for several countries to jointly procure the same weapons.
“What we have now decided is for several countries to procure the same equipment. In my opinion, this is the most effective way to proceed,” concluded the Finnish defense minister.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hykkänen made this statement on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Earlier, Germany announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine, which includes a three-digit number of air-to-air missiles and additional funding for air defense. Berlin will also continue to supply air defense systems, missiles, and drones as part of existing support programs.
The Danish government has decided to promptly adjust the structure of its defense aid and provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with an additional 15,000 long-range artillery rounds. This was reported by Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
The number of countries funding the Czech initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine has nearly halved, which is already beginning to affect the program’s stability.
Ukraine and Norway will jointly produce the most scarce types of shells.
