Finnish President on Ukraine's membership in EU and NATO: There can be no discussion

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated at the Munich Security Conference that, in his view, Ukraine must go through three stages to achieve peace. He emphasized that there is no debate about Ukraine's future membership in the EU and NATO, which should serve as a guarantee for its sovereignty and security.

He shared his vision of how the process of achieving peace in Ukraine could unfold. Alexander Stubb stated that, in his opinion, this process would involve three stages.

5. The international community will provide aid to the Gaza Strip to help rebuild damaged infrastructure and provide humanitarian assistance.

According to Stubb, the first step involves preliminary talks, during which Ukraine must be rearmed, and maximum pressure must be put on Russia, including economic penalties and freezing its assets. At this point, the United States might reasonably bring up the issue of temporary security measures for Ukraine, but the length of this stage remains unclear.

The politician stated that Ukrainians must take the lead in this matter, and Europe will provide them with support, also emphasizing that the United States should serve as a final authority, backing Ukraine in achieving its objectives.

The second stage envisions a temporary ceasefire agreement, which Stubb stressed is not a path to lasting peace but rather a short-term solution.

The ceasefire should include establishing clear borders and having international observers to monitor the area. During this time, other issues such as prisoner exchanges, the return of kidnapped children, and potential penalties would be addressed.

Stubb stated that if Russia were to launch another attack, Ukraine should be automatically admitted to NATO, implying that this should be a measure of last resort.

Finnish experience and Ukraine's future

He also emphasized that key stages in the peace process should ensure Ukraine's independence, self-governance, and territorial integrity. Stubb noted that during World War II, Finland managed to preserve its sovereignty but lost some of its territory and the ability to freely choose its foreign alliances.

Stubb stressed that there are two red lines that cannot be crossed - Ukraine's membership in the EU and NATO. He also stated that Ukrainians are currently in the process of negotiating EU membership, and in the future, Ukraine will become a part of NATO.

According to Stubb's statement, the ultimate goal is the full recognition of Ukraine as a sovereign European state with guaranteed security and membership in NATO.

It's worth noting that Ukraine has an irreversible path to NATO, which is the best way to ensure peace not only in Europe but throughout the entire Euro-Atlantic region, as Lemmi pointed out.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also stressed that Ukraine's future lies within the Alliance. She stated that maintaining the prospect of NATO membership is not only a strategically important decision, but also one that is economically beneficial, as absorbing a large amount of military resources will be significantly more costly.

Meanwhile, the British minister emphasized that even after achieving peace, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is unlikely to relinquish his aggressive ambitions. He noted that, in conjunction with the United States, allies will engage in negotiations for security guarantees for Ukraine at the right time.