While other nations are dropping the need for visas, or even for passports for Ukranians.
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In an op-ed article, Finland’s largest circulation daily Helsingin Sanomat critically analyses the “long-cherished” belief among Finns that they have a “special understanding” of the Russian way of thinking.
According to HS, this assumption has its roots in the period — beginning in 1809 and lasting until 1917 — when Finland was a Grand Duchy of the Russian empire, as Finns learned to work around certain issues based on the political temperature in St Petersburg.
“Yes Finns know the Russian bear,” HS describes the thinking of the time.
But HS wonders whether they really do know this bear, and answers the question by citing a number of major historical events that Finns did not see coming — including the 1939 attack by Russia that sparked the Winter War or indeed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
More recently, HS notes that Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö was described as the “Putin whisperer” when he was interviewed on US news network CNN. The channel had clearly sought out a person who “knew and understood” the mindset of the Russian president Vladimir Putin.
However, Niinistö told CNN that he did not understand Putin either.
“Even though I have met him several times during these 10 years, and had several phone calls with him. Like we all know, it is very difficult to say and define what another person actually is, deep down,” he said. “We are a bit confused at the moment.”
In conclusion, HS writes, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should once and for all dispel this idea that Finland has a special relationship with Russia based on mutual understanding or trust.
AL: “We have entered a new era”
On a similar theme, and also in an op-ed article(siirryt toiseen palveluun), Tampere based Aamulehti writes that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has permanently changed the relationship between Finland and its eastern neighbour.
Echoing some of the points made in the HS article, AL opines that Finland, like many other Western countries, adopted a “lax and blue-eyed” approach towards Russian aggression. All of this culminated in the attack on Ukraine, which the paper describes as a clear violation of international law.
“Finland cannot accept this,” AL writes. “No matter that Finland is Russia’s neighbour and trading partner, Russia’s actions bind us even more tightly to the Western community, especially the European Union.”
The paper adds that it is “impossible” to see how confidence and trust can return to the relationship between Finland and Russia while Putin and his administration are in power. Even in the event that Putin would be ousted, there would need to be huge systemic change in Russia before bilateral relations could return to normal.
“We have entered a new era,” AL concludes.
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I wonder what their hurry is?
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What, we’re actually going to give them their embassy and their oil refineries back?
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I have no idea. But today Mr. Maduro set two American citizens free.
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Who knew that running a country was so much more difficult than just enacting religious laws and beating up little girls who wanted to go to school?
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The war in Ukraine is raising the prices of commodities.
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Russia accidentally recognizes Taiwan as a nation.
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Encouraging that they list Taiwan as a nation?
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That’s got to ruffle some feathers in Beijing, at least.
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And even today they are at best well wishers, in that they don’t wish Russia any specific harm
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Meanwhile in Afghanistan… tens of thousands seeking refuge; five million children facing famine; 500% increase in child marriages; children being sold to feed families… Not a mention of it.
My god, they must be wondering what makes their humanitarian crisis so unimportant.
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I love that angry, angry, Irish woman…
Greater context, tho?
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Ah, forgot her header. Edited.
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Wonderful! Here’s the MEP’s website and wikipedia…
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