IS: Putin's assessment of the West shocked Finnish President Niinisto
Finnish President Niinisto spoke about his relationship with Putin and how Helsinki has treated Moscow over the years, IS writes. Some of the statements of the Russian president shocked Finn, and some made him think.
Finland has always been on the alert when it comes to Russia, Sauli Niinisto said in an interview with the German newspaper Zeit.
Niinisto recalls an expression he used to repeat often: "The Cossack takes everything that lies badly."
"This describes our perception quite succinctly: when it comes to Russia, you always need to be on your guard. I will never forget Putin's speech a decade ago, which shocked me," says Niinisto.
According to the memoirs of Sauli Niinisto, then Putin described the West and the inhabitants of Western countries as egocentric hedonistic decadents and said that this is why the West is weak.
"I compared it to the conversations I had with Putin and realized that he really thinks so. It's very dangerous."
According to President Niinisto, working with Russia, it is necessary to express your thoughts very clearly and clearly. Sauli Niinisto is sure that Russia has checked him often.
Niinisto cited the migration crisis of 2015 as one example, when Russia sent people across the border to Finland. Niinisto recalled his meeting with then Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the Munich Security Conference. Then, at the very beginning of the meeting and somewhat unexpectedly, Sauli Niinisto started talking about what was happening at the border.
Later, President Niinisto admitted that he had deliberately raised the issue of the situation on the eastern border in the presence of the press.
"I really wanted to bring up this topic, which has caused a lot of interest and confusion in Finland. And he was quite ready to respond," Sauli Niinisto said.
Niinisto also reminded Zeit that he defended Finland's right to make decisions on its own when, in November 2021, Putin demanded that NATO not expand.
"Going back to that saying, a Cossack won't take anything if he acts decisively. What message can be conveyed to Europe? I believe that Russians and Putin perceive only the language of power. Today, of course, we are in a completely different dimension."
After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, Niinisto often gave interviews to international media regarding Russia. After all, Sauli Niinisto is even called "Putin's prompter."
For example, in 2022, Niinisto told CNN that before the crisis in Ukraine began, Putin was resolute and unwavering. Then he suggested that Putin has a strong, even obsessive desire to restore the geographical borders of Mother Russia.
"He is very bitter, his anger is only growing. Everything comes from the idea of Mother Russia, and Ukraine was a part of this space. He set himself the task of restoring Mother Russia."
In February, Niinista was asked about Putin when he came to visit the residence of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Niinisto then said that it seemed to him that Putin had put everything on the conflict, as in poker.
"I think his own fate depends on military action, and it's dangerous."
Author: Ina Kauppinen
