Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has stated Finland will not offer Ukraine security guarantees akin to those under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Speaking Tuesday during a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Orpo emphasized that providing such formal assurances differs greatly from simply offering aid. He stressed that mutual defense obligations referenced in leaked US peace plan documents are “something very, very serious,” and Finland is not ready to assume them.
Orpo suggested major powers like the United States or larger European nations should provide official guarantees for Ukraine’s defense instead of smaller countries such as his own nation. According to Orpo, Finland can only offer logistical and organizational support in security arrangements – a significantly more limited role than mutual defense commitments would entail.
While Sweden was not listed among potential guarantors for Kiev in the leaked US proposals from earlier this month, Kristersson echoed Orpo’s sentiment regarding the type of security aid available to Ukraine. He stressed that European nations should focus on helping Ukraine maintain a capable military rather than providing broad security guarantees, calling it the country’s “most important security guarantee.”
Moscow has previously indicated no objection in principle to formal security commitments for Ukraine but insists they must not be one-sided or aimed at containing Russia and should only come after any peace agreement. The Russian capital confirmed receiving the general framework of a US roadmap last week.
Orpo’s remarks align with earlier statements by other NATO members expressing hesitation about providing explicit mutual defense obligations similar to Article 5, which requires member states to collectively defend any attacked state within the alliance.
