Crisis in Ukraine In the Defense Committee, we want no quick additional support for Ukraine, but we also emphasize our own readiness in the field of armaments – “We should not throw ourselves childish here now”

Defense Committee chairman Ilkka Kanerva (Kok) says that it would now be good for Finland to give Ukraine the armed assistance that is possible.

At the same time, however, it must be borne in mind that Finland has not acquired its own weapons in vain.

“The situation is so unstable at the moment that we ourselves must also be prepared for the fact that we may need the weapons arsenal we have. We should not throw ourselves childish in the other direction here either, ”says Kanerva.

“We have not acquired weapons systems in vain.”

Government is due to meet on a Sunday afternoon assistance to Ukraine.

There has been an entity in the preparation that includes defense equipment materials.

Yle said on Saturdaythat a decision is currently being considered to export a thousand helmets, a thousand bulletproof vests and a field hospital to Ukraine.

In addition, a decision has been prepared for Estonia to export cannons previously sold to Ukraine. It is not clear whether this matter will be decided on Sunday.

In many in other European countries, clear armed assistance has been decided. For example, Germany – which has previously considered, like Finland, not to export weapons to conflict zones – said on Saturday that it would export a thousand anti-tank weapons and 500 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

Are there any possible protective equipment, such as bulletproof vests or helmets, from Finland?

“Let’s give what is at all possible,” Kanerva says.

“You shouldn’t be an extreme child and promise but all the guns there. Why would we have acquired them ourselves if we didn’t need them? ”

And is Finland acting too late?

Kanerva says the government has not had an “emergency schedule” in the matter. He still has enough understanding.

“For the first time, we are facing such a consideration, and of course it needs to be done in a balanced way.”

“Now you have to be quick in the birds to get the job done.”

Sdp: n Erkki Tuomiojawho sits in both the Defense Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, believes, like Kanerva, that the Defense Forces and the government will consider what military material can be handed over.

Tuomioja says that he does not take a position on the information that was in the public domain or on what would be sufficient help.

“It depends on whether there is material that could be used for this without compromising your own defense capabilities,” he says.

“Yes, I rely on the discretion of the president and the government in this matter.”

He attaches importance, above all, to the EU initiative on weapons assistance to Ukraine on Saturday.

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell spoke about a proposal to fund military equipment for Ukraine from EU funds.

“It is important that the EU has a united front. […] Then if this is a common line, then it is quite clear. Even after that, of course, each country decides for itself what it can provide, ”says Tuomioja.

In Tuomioja’s opinion, Finland has by no means been particularly slow.

“Finland has always been at the forefront of the readiness to make decisions.”

Downtown Member of Parliament for the Defense Committee Joonas Könttä agrees with its colleagues that Finland must also take care of its own needs.

“We need to think for ourselves what we can give, and the Defense Forces need to be consulted here about what kind of situation we have.”

He believes the government and the president are doing their best to think of all ways to help Ukraine.

Könttä believes that in addition to protective equipment, ammunition, for example, could also be considered.

However, the fundamental question is the most important thing about Könta, which is that help is given.

“This is precisely the kind of moral and ethical question: Europe is at war and an independent state is defending itself against the attacker. On such questions, my compass says that then you have to help and be ready to review the policies you have made in the past, as I understand it to be done now. ”

As for the schedule of decisions, it is pointless to talk about Köntä. But now we have to act, he says.

“Yes, those supplies would have been needed before, that’s for sure.”