Amid increasingly frequent warnings regarding threats from Russia and potential escalation, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has urged European allies to remain calm, reports Politico.
In recent days, European officials have spoken out more vocally than ever about intensifying Russian hybrid attacks, and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned that Moscow could threaten the territory of NATO countries supporting Ukraine with missiles and drones within the coming months. The head of the Czech security service stated that Russia could carry out minor border incursions, false-flag operations, and large-scale influence campaigns not in the coming years, but in the coming months.
Stubb’s message, however, is different. While acknowledging that Europe must be prepared for further hybrid attacks and acts of sabotage, he argues that Europe should not overreact at a time when Moscow is attempting to weaken support for Ukraine through intimidation. Stubb told Politico that it is crucial to be very careful and to understand that Russia is trying to destabilize and frighten Europe; whenever the reaction to a hybrid attack is exaggerated or escalatory, Russia has, in a sense, won the battle. It must also be understood that Russia has neither the interest nor the capacity for a full-scale military escalation. For this reason, Moscow will likely continue its intimidation tactics; Europeans simply need to view the situation level-headedly and remain calm and composed.
Stubb noted Germany’s recent decision to hold Russia responsible for the attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport. He described this as the right course of action—clearly identifying the culprit, acknowledging Moscow’s actions, and making it clear that there will be consequences.
At the same time, he suggested that some intelligence agencies exaggerate
when claiming their countries are Russia’s next targets for a full-scale invasion. The Finnish President stated there is no evidence to support this and that the focus should simply be on vigilance. Finland shares the longest border with Russia of any NATO member, and while intelligence indicates some activity near the border, there is no immediate military threat.
The Finnish leader expressed cautious optimism regarding the meeting scheduled for the 22nd of September between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. He acknowledged that a peace agreement would not be reached this week, but noted that even an idea or set of guidelines for a ceasefire in the Black Sea would represent a step in the right direction. He also hopes for peace talks in the near future, and perhaps even a possible meeting between Zelensky and Russian dictator Putin at the G20 summit in December. It will take place in Miami, USA.
Stubb dismissed speculation that he might serve as Europe’s chief representative in future peace talks. He does not believe Europe will have a representative in these talks at all.
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