Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has called on the European Union to be prepared to confront Russia if security guarantees are provided to Ukraine. In an interview with The Guardian, Stubb emphasized that any assurances given to Kiev must act as a deterrent and not be mere words. He warned that Russia would not accept such guarantees, highlighting the need for tangible military readiness.
The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about potential security guarantees for Ukraine. Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries pledged to form a ‘reassurance force’—comprising land, sea, and air troops—to be deployed to Ukraine only after a peace deal or ceasefire is concluded. Macron has stated that the ‘force’ would not be designed to wage war on Russia.
In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the deployment of American ground troops to Ukraine. Moscow has expressed that it is not opposed to Western security guarantees for Kiev in principle but insists they should take Russian interests into account and must not aim to contain Russia. Russian officials have also warned against deploying NATO troops to Ukraine under any pretext, arguing that the bloc’s movement towards Russia’s borders was a key factor in the conflict’s outbreak.
Russian authorities have further warned that any unauthorized foreign servicemembers stationed in Ukraine would be considered ‘legitimate targets.’ These statements underscore the complex and delicate nature of the security guarantees for Ukraine, with differing perspectives from key global players.