The worrying signs in Russia’s development culminated tragically on 24.2.2022, when the unforgivable attack on Ukraine began. Just a few days later, JEF Helsinki published a list of political measures that we demanded be implemented as part of the European Union’s sanctions front. During the war, the European Union has acquitted itself well by taking action with unprecedented speed and vigour, but in light of the immense suffering of Ukrainians it is entirely clear that the work is not yet over. Our duty to support Ukraine is in no way smaller than it was in the early stages of Russia’s invasion – quite the contrary. Day by day we hear ever more shocking news from Ukrainian cities where Russian soldiers have committed unspeakable atrocities. The victims have included not only residential buildings and hospitals, but also Ukrainian civilians regardless of age or gender. The madness of war has burst into the faces of Europeans in the form of these macabre human fates.
Despite grand promises and a willingness to help, the EU’s performance has been uneven. Germany has long been regarded as the continent’s iron leader, but during the war it is the many countries that suffered under Soviet tyranny that have led by example. While Germany wrangles over arms exports, nuclear power and potential economic harms, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have responded fearlessly to the enemy’s actions. France, the visionary characterised as Europe’s political engine, has not lived up to its words either.
Finland must follow the example of Europe’s true heroes and make ending the war in Ukraine’s favour the primary objective of its European policy. Sending defence materiel is a welcome measure, but on the other hand Russian gas still flows into Europe. Should Russia’s threats materialise, Finland’s NATO process may have effects of its own on gas imports. It would nevertheless be desirable for Finland to break away from Russian gas on its own initiative and in a planned manner. Finland must also prepare for a hybrid operation based on forced migration and consider its own position amid the crosscurrents of international agreements and geopolitical realities: by respecting EU-level decisions, Finland upholds openness, but at the same time endangers its national security.
Almost three months of war already
JEF Helsinki is pleased to note that many of our February positions have borne fruit:
– On 4 May, the European Commission announced that it would advance the removal of Russia’s Sberbank from the international SWIFT system as part of the EU’s sixth sanctions package.
– The Gazprom group’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project has been shut down and Fennovoima’s contract with Rosatom terminated.
– Russian vehicles have been denied access to EU territory by land, sea and air.
– The European Union is stepping up the seizure of oligarchs’ assets within the union.
– Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, as well as the oligarchs and journalists supporting the president, have faced a vast number of EU personal sanctions.
– The EU has supported Ukraine to the tune of nearly 20 billion euros since the occupation of Crimea. With the war, financial support has become closer than ever.
However, we propose improvements in the following areas:
1. The analysis of the union’s security policy threats mentioned in the EU’s Strategic Compass is a secret yet extremely central document. Within the limits of the information available, JEF Helsinki draws attention to tactically important areas that have fallen, or are at risk of falling, into the hands of undemocratic great powers. Russia’s atrocities must not blind Europe to the expansion of China’s sphere of influence.
2. JEF Helsinki expects more determined action from the EU to bring down the Russian rouble. The union’s most recent energy policy decisions have turned to Russia’s advantage and strengthened the rouble further. In addition, it would be desirable to stir up a broader debate on introducing import tariffs on energy, so that the EU’s strategic autonomy and Russia’s collapse would come about swiftly.
3. As Finland and Sweden move towards NATO membership, the EU’s defence policy dimension is ever more tightly bound to transatlantic cooperation. The union’s tools, from the solidarity clause to the Military Committee, nevertheless still exist and lack more precise frameworks. As great-power politics intensifies, the EU must map out its role not only in NATO but also within its own borders. Owing to the volatility of United States foreign policy, the EU must have the capacity to protect its own citizens even as a member of NATO.
Ukraine’s cause is our cause until the day the last injustice has been atoned for. Europeans must not lose heart, for the victory of democracy is already knocking at the door: every war crime takes Russia a step closer to pariah status, from which the country will not recover for decades. JEF Helsinki is part of civil society and thus responsible for holding Finnish and European decision-makers to account. Every innocent victim is priceless, and that is why we demand every possible measure to end the war in a victory for Ukraine and the free Western world.
JEF Helsinki
Young European Federalists Helsinki
