The Finnish government has decided to provide another military support package for Ukraine, this one at a value of €400 million. Finnish daily Hufvudstadsbladet reports:
[President] Sauli Niinistö approved the cabinet’s proposal on Thursday. The decision was made public ahead of a meeting in the German city of Ramstein between countries supportive of Ukraine.
Since the start of the war in February last year, Finland has provided military aid to Ukraine worth €590 million. The Hufvudstadsbladet quotes defense minister Mikko Savola:
In total, the defense equipment that is now being shipped is clearly the biggest we have committed so far. Finland will deliver heavy weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine.
On Friday, the same day as the new aid package was announced, Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto held a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, where Mr. Haavisto explained that the package does not include Leopard 2 tanks. These are, he said, “not a quick response” to what Ukraine currently needs.
Mr. Rasmussen noted that to date, Denmark has provided €750 million worth of support for Ukraine. He also noted that while his country is ready to do more, the aid “comes at a price.” As an example, he mentioned that Denmark has given all its 19 Caesar artillery systems to the Ukrainian military.
To this point, Mr. Haavisto pointed out that every aid package depletes the resources of the giving country’s own defense capabilities. He continued:
We are in a situation where the line is long for new weapons and military resources. It could take two, three years before we can replace the arms.
Both foreign ministers said that the aid provided to Ukraine has motivated their governments to increase funding for their own defense forces.
