Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on the 15th of October that there is no logic to US President Donald Trump’s dealings with Moscow, and that the American leader should remember that his true allies are in Europe, Politico reports.Speaking to Politico, Orpo summed up the shock and disbelief felt by Ukraine’s allies following news of Trump’s plan to purchase diesel fuel from Russia and reports that the US might have restricted the amount of intelligence available to the Ukrainians—information crucial for countering Russian attacks. Orpo said his message to Trump is simple: Europe is the ally. He noted that European nations belong to NATO and that the alliance’s greatest enemy is Russia; that is precisely why Trump’s actions make no sense. Orpo emphasized that while he has no answers, he has plenty of questions.This week, Trump alarmed European leaders and horrified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by announcing an agreement with Russia to release its diesel fuel onto the market in order to lower fuel prices. Ukraine’s allies fear that this will increase Russia’s profits from fuel sales, thereby providing funds to continue the war.The US President has also stated that the Ukrainians should stop their attacks on Russian oil refineries and elect a different president.Finland is an influential ally of Ukraine in Europe. It shares the European Union’s longest land border with Russia—1,300 kilometers—and Finnish President Alexander Stubb is an accomplished athlete who earned Trump’s respect on the golf course, thereby gaining a degree of influence within the White House.Orpo remarked that, were he in Trump’s position, he would not trust Putin. Zelenskyy expressed concern that the US is siding with Russia, warning that the Americans and their president are on the wrong side of history. Orpo agreed. He noted that Ukraine faces grave danger—its skies are exposed to Russia, and missiles are raining down. The Ukrainians are in need of more extensive air defense, and any agreement between Trump and Putin would only make the situation even more perilous. One possible reason for Trump’s actions is the midterm elections scheduled for the 3rd of November, but Orpo emphasized that the volume of diesel Russia can sell to the US is too small to have a real impact on the price paid by American consumers. The Finn stated that, come what may, EU leaders must ensure Ukraine has sufficient weaponry, independently of the US.Finland and Sweden are among the countries seeking to reopen discussions on transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Last year, Belgium blocked the issue due to concerns regarding legal implications. Orpo said that the best solution would be to find a way to utilize the frozen assets, and that another attempt must be made.
Finland criticizes Trump’s dealings with Putin: It makes no sense
