LONDON (Reuters) – Finland will definitely be part of any “coalition of the willing” that could help support Ukraine’s security, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told Britain’s Times Radio on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain, France and some other nations would form a coalition to draw up plans to offer Ukraine support in the event of a peace deal to end Russia’s war.
“We are definitely part of the coalition of the willing, and we are looking at the package of capabilities which we have to put to the table in order to help Ukraine in securing itself,” she said.
“We will, of course, have to secure the rest of Europe, too… there are many ways to participate and rest assured Finland will participate also.”
The Nordic countries have been among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, including Finland which shares the European Union’s longest border with Russia.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said earlier on Wednesday that Finland was actively taking part in the discussions around the coalition of the willing but ruled out participation in any peace-keeping mission in Ukraine, citing need to secure Finland’s own defence next to Russia.
”We will not send soldiers to Ukraine,” Orpo told members of parliament.
(Reporting by William James in London and Anne Kauranen in Helsinki; Editing by Alistair Bell)
