“Russia depends on cooperation with the EU”

In fact, large Russian state-owned companies such as the gas giant Gazprom and Sberbank are already trying to replace foreign hardware and software – such as from Microsoft, SAP and Nvidia – with Russian technology. But in the event of the US threatening to stop high-tech exports in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, Russian producers would also run out of chips.

According to Haavisto, however, Europe must face Moscow with more self-confidence: “The EU is Russia’s largest trading partner, and that is of great value to Russia, also because the EU is the largest sales market for its oil and gas. That’s why what the EU does counts. “

Read the whole interview here:

What is Finland doing against the growing Russian militarization?

Together with the EU, we defend the principles of European security, which is being strained by more and more Russian military forces on the Ukrainian border. That worries us a lot. And the fact that a Russian-Belarusian major maneuver is to take place this week – very close to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev – increases these concerns. The reaction of the EU is important because it affects us all.

But is there really a European Russia policy or just the one-man show by President Macron and maybe soon by Chancellor Scholz?

The EU has a united stance on Russia and is preparing for worst-case scenarios, including economic sanctions in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine. It is very important that we work together on this.

Do you feel that France and Germany are well informed about European defense policy?

In the discussion about a stronger defense capability of the EU, we have a lot of sympathy with France’s position. We want a significantly stronger role for the EU in defense issues.

Russia has made it clear that it does not accept the EU, only the US and major European states. how to deal with it

You only have to look at economic relations: the EU is Russia’s largest trading partner, and that is of great value to Russia, also because the EU is the largest market for its oil and gas. That’s why what the EU does counts.

Isn’t Russia increasingly withdrawing economically from Europe and shifting more and more to trade with China? And doesn’t this mean the formation of a Russo-Chinese bloc?

Of course, Russia and China are growing closer together. But they also have a lot of differences among themselves. Russia always feels like a European nation. Every country has the freedom to choose its partners. And while Russia has invested heavily in its stability, it has not yet invested in the necessary economic reforms.

What does that mean politically?

Russia needs Europe and Western technologies if it wants to get out of the raw materials economy and achieve greater vertical integration. And Moscow knows that we may still be dependent on oil and gas for another ten years, but that we will then free ourselves from it with renewable and green technologies. This forces Russia to cooperate differently with the West.

Finland is a military neutral country. What does that mean for your security today as Russia’s direct neighbor?

We hardly talk about our neutrality anymore, because we see the EU as our home base and we try to get the EU to do a lot more for its own security and defense. At the same time, together with Sweden, we have strengthened our partnership with NATO and take part in NATO maneuvers and operations such as in Afghanistan. The more intensive cooperation with NATO has strengthened our own security. But so far most Finns are satisfied with the status quo, although the Russian threat to Ukraine has of course also fueled the discussion in Finland and more and more Finns are increasingly calling for NATO membership.

So is there a Finnish application for NATO membership coming up in the next few weeks?

It is good that we are having this debate now. But I can’t promise a quick decision. In any case, we are glad that NATO has an open-door policy for other countries and that Finland has the option of joining NATO if we want it and are technically ready to do so.

How does Finland react militarily to Russian politics?

We spend more than two percent of our gross domestic product on defense, so we already meet the NATO criterion. And with 280,000 soldiers, we have one of the largest armies in Europe in relation to our population. Of course, we are following very closely whether the dangers are increasing for us or in the Baltic Sea. So far it’s quiet.

What do you think of the fact that the federal government is blocking the delivery of howitzers that Estonia has procured from Finland and wants to deliver to Ukraine?

Every country makes its own decisions. We are part of a chain because we once bought howitzers – hopefully very cheaply – from the Federal Republic of Germany from old GDR stocks and passed them on to Estonia, and Tallin now wants to deliver them to the Ukraine. Germany has a say in that and we are waiting for a German decision.

Back to China: Does the EU need a different policy towards Beijing, especially since China’s dealings with Lithuania?

China is a complex issue. On the one hand, China is of course an important economic partner, but at the same time a major competitor in the economic and political field. Especially when we look at China’s role in Africa and the Arctic. But of course we also need China to deal with human issues such as climate change.

Minister, thank you for the interview.

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