West must help Ukraine defend itself, not surrender – Finnish foreign minister
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said this to journalists ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
Valtonen noted that it was clear Putin was not seeking peace but power. She stressed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not need Western assistance to surrender. Instead, he requires support from all partners to defend freedom and the people's right to choose.
Valtonen said that Europe should take part in discussions on European security, pointing out that Ukraine's security is one of such issues.
She added that Europe would continue its steadfast support for Ukraine, both militarily and humanitarianly. She highlighted the importance of helping Ukraine get through the winter, given that Russia was intensifying its attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.
She also said that Ukraine needed assistance with air defense and long-range capabilities.
Commenting on delays by some member states in adopting the next sanctions package against Russia, Valtonen noted that several mechanisms had been developed to bypass the unanimity principle.
Regarding a "reparations loan" for Ukraine and Belgium's concerns over the related risks, she stated that negotiations were still underway to resolve those issues and find an effective solution.
