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Finland Advocates for Balanced Militaryโฃ Limits in Potential Ukraineโ Peace Agreement
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By Lucasโ Fernandez, World Today News | Published: October 26, 2023
Helsinki โคis pushing for a reciprocal approach to any potential peace negotiations regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Finnish Foreignโ Ministerโ Elina Valtonenovรก stated that if a peaceโ plan includes โขlimitations onโค the size or capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces, โit must concurrently impose similar restrictionsโ on the Russian military.
EU Ministers Discuss Peace Prospects
The call for balance came during a remote meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Wednesday,convened to discuss potential pathways towards peaceโข talks concerning russia’s โฃwar in Ukraine. โคEspreso TV โขinitially reported on Valtonenovรก’sโ remarks, citing the finnish daily Yle as the source.
“Aggressor andโฃ victim Cannot Be Held to Different Standards”
Valtonenovรก โฃforcefully argued that imposing constraints on the โคdefending nation while allowing the aggressor toโ maintain its military strength is fundamentally unjust. “It stands to reason that if there are requirements or limitations placed on the victim, for exmaple regarding the size of the defense force, then there should be at least similar requirements placed on the attacker,” she asserted.โฃ “There is a need to limit the capabilities of โthe Russian armed forces.”
Acknowledging russian Resistance, But Maintaining Hope
The Finnishโ Minister acknowledged that Russia is unlikely to willingly accept such a proposition. Though, she expressed confidence thatโข moscow could be persuaded โคto comply, especially if presented with limited alternatives and facing broad international consensus. This โฃinternationalโข support, she believes, โis already significant.
A history of Russian Aggression
Valtonenovรก underscored the historical pattern of Russian foreign policy, โemphasizing that Moscow has consistently posed a threat to its neighboring countries, rather than โคtheโ other way around. โ She cautioned that even โฃa cessation of hostilities in Ukraine would not eliminate the โunderlying russianโข threat, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.
Ukraine’s Right to Self-determination
Concluding her remarks, Valtonenovรก firmly reiterated Finland’s unwavering โคsupport for Ukraine’s sovereignty and its rightโค to determine its own future. “Only Ukraine can determine the terms of peace thatโ concern it,” she stated. “Finland’s โsupport for Ukraine’s right โขto self-determination is unwavering.”