Finland
Overall Score
Details
B+
On Track
Accomplishments:
- Shifted its long-standing neutrality policy and is preparing to join NATO.
- Froze Russia-linked luxury yachts from leaving Finnish waters.
- Banned Russian propaganda channels and began to offer its own Russian-language news.
Drawbacks:
- Still buys Russian oil, while preparing a plan to replace these supplies.
Condemnation
Military Support
Providing military support for Ukraine, composed of four key categories:
- Ground Forces Support (e.g. small arms, defensive equipment, anti-tank)
- Air Defense Support
- Communications Support
- Cyber Intelligence Support
- Finland provided Ukraine with thousands of bulletproof vests, composite helmets, stretchers, equipment for emergency medical care stations, assault rifles, 1,500 disposable anti-tank weapons, 70,000 field rations, and undisclosed amount of additional defense materiel and weapons.
- Previously neutral Finland plans to join NATO after Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Financial & Institutional Sanctions
Identifying sanctions impacting the Russian economy as a whole, including banks, sovereign debt, industry, access to global markets, etc.
- Finland supported all EU's fnancial and institutional sanctions against Russia and contunues to limit trade realtions with Russia.
However,
- Finnish govermnent just follows EU's policy and welcomes private businesses halting operations in Russia but hasn't announced any separate actions against Russian public institutions.
Sanctions on Oligarchs, Kleptocrats, & Western Enablers
Sanctions on individuals in Putin's inner circle including:
- exposing & seizing their assets
- revoking their visas
- holding them legally accountable where possible
The goal is to convince these individuals that their futures would be better without Putin than with him.
- Supported all EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats.
- Freezed 21 Russian luxury yachts from moving out of Finnish waters.
- Seized $46 Million worth of art en Route to Russian museums, enforcing EU sanctions.
Diplomatic Isolation
Measures taken to isolate Russia diplomatically (e.g. recall of ambassadors & diplomats, stripping Russia of its G20 membership, etc)
- Expelled two Russian diplomats.
However,
- Majority of Russian diplomats as well as Russian consulate in Turku are still working in Finland.
Propaganda
Combatting Putin's global propaganda network. While respecting freedom of speech, Putin should not be allowed to spread disinformation while Russia bans every single independent outlet. This measures countries' success in curbing Russian disinformation spread through Russia Today and other platforms.
Finland stopped Russian state broadcasts and a leading Finnish media offered news in Russian to counter Kremlin propaganda.
Replace Russian Energy
Replacing Russian energy exports with alternative energy sources. That includes increasing production and opening new sources from fracking to nuclear to renewables.
- Restricted electricity transmission capacity from Russia.
- Stopped gas imports from Russia
- Calls EU to end dependency on Russian energy resourses and invests 850 million euros to speed up Russian energy exit.
However,
- 80% of crude oil is still coming to Finland from Russia.