Why Finland Is Preparing to Defend Itself | ABC News In-Depth

Nov 7, 2025 | As Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it’s been upping its threats and intimidation towards NATO countries on Europe’s Eastern Flank. One of Russia’s neighbours is more prepared than most to fight back should Moscow’s forces come close - Finland. From underground bunkers to mandatory military conscription, Finland says it’s prepared for any threat or crises. Europe Bureau Chief Mazoe Ford travelled to the Nordic nation for this report.

Un «effet père Noël» ? Malgré son menaçant voisin russe, la Laponie finlandaise prévoit une saison touristique record

Une capture d’écran de cet article. | Rovaniemi prépare une saison hivernale record portée par une croissance de 15% du nombre de visiteurs internationaux. / belostmi - stock.adobe.com
LE FIGARO : Aux confins d’une Europe en proie à des tensions avec son voisin russe, Rovaniemi, ville emblématique du Père Noël, s’attend à une saison hivernale exceptionnelle.

Les tensions à l’est ne semblent pas freiner l’essor touristique de la destination Laponie. Symbole de la fascination pour l’Arctique, Rovaniemi, capitale de la Laponie finlandaise, se prépare à une saison hivernale exceptionnelle portée par une forte croissance des arrivées internationales et un vaste programme d’expansion de ses infrastructures aéroportuaires. Sanna Kärkkäinen, directrice de Visit Rovaniemi, confirme au Figaro : «Nous nous préparons à une saison hivernale et de Noël record, avec une augmentation attendue de plus de 15% du nombre de voyageurs. Pour Noël, l’accessibilité sera également sans précédent avec plus de 46 vols directs vers Rovaniemi». » | Par Laura Dinane | dimanche 19 octobre 2025

Why Finns Are Obsessed with Blueberries

Sep 27, 2025 | Blueberries are more than just a "superfood" in Finland — they’re a national obsession. Thanks to the country’s vast forests and the unique concept of "everyman's right," millions of Finns head out each summer to pick wild blueberries (mustikka) by hand. It’s estimated that up to 20 million kilograms of these antioxidant-rich berries are harvested annually. They end up in everything from breakfast porridge to blueberry pie (mustikkapiirakka), salads, smoothies and ice cream.

Unlike the larger, cultivated varieties such as the American blueberry, Finland’s wild blueberries are smaller, darker and packed with flavor and nutrients. They’re considered a true "superfruit" — high in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants — and deeply-rooted in Finnish culinary traditions.

Security Guarantees for Ukraine Require Readiness to Fight Russia, Says Finland’s President

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Alexander Stubb says a plausible deterrent and ‘American backstop’ are needed in the event of a future peace deal

Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, has said security guarantees for Ukraine, which are being discussed by the so-called “coalition of the willing”, would compel the European countries that sign to fight Russia if Moscow launched military action against Ukraine again in future.

“Security guarantees in essence are a deterrent. That deterrent has to be plausible and in order for it to be plausible it has to be strong,” Stubb told the Guardian, in an interview in Helsinki before travelling to New York for the UN general assembly.

He said the guarantees would only come into effect after a future deal between Ukraine and Russia, but insisted that Russia would have no veto over their format.

“Russia has absolutely no say in the sovereign decisions of an independent nation state … So for me it’s not an issue will Russia agree or not. Of course they won’t, but that’s not the point,” he said. » | Shaun Walker in Helsinki | Saturday, September 20, 2025

Exclusive: TVP World in Finland – the Country with NATO's Longest Russia Border | News in Depth

Sep 11, 2025 | Finland, home to 5.5 million people sharing NATO’s longest border with Russia, is strengthening its defenses after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While many Finns feel confident in their preparedness, others remain wary of the Kremlin’s threats and hybrid tactics, such as the weaponization of migrants. Along the border, Finnish guards remain calm yet vigilant, even though military installations are limited, and most crossings have been closed since 2023. The country has built extensive civil defense infrastructure, including over 50,000 shelters capable of housing 87% of its population in a crisis. Finland also maintains nearly 900,000 reservists and emphasizes self-reliance, viewing NATO as only a third line of defense after its own forces and regional allies. Officials stress that preparations began decades ago, reflecting Finland’s long and often tense history with Russia.

The Nazi-Finnish Alliance: How A Desperate Nation Sought Hitler's Help

Sep 6, 2025 | Finland's collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II was a complex and controversial strategy driven by the threat of Soviet Russia. Led by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, Finland sought an ally after the 1939 Winter War to reclaim lost territory and secure its independence. While initially defining themselves as "co-belligerents," Finland's cooperation with the Nazis deepened, including the recruitment of volunteers for the Waffen SS. However, Mannerheim's decision to later distance his country from the Nazis and his cunning political maneuvers ultimately allowed Finland to negotiate a separate peace, ensuring its survival and avoiding a Soviet occupation. This unique history raises the question of whether it's possible to be a "good collaborator" when the alternative is annihilation.

Finland’s Short, Precious Summers Are Plagued by Goose Poop

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Finns trying to enjoy beaches and parks during their all-too-brief summers have been vexed by legions of geese — and their droppings. The smelly mess has resisted even the most innovative solutions.

Each summer, sun-starved Finns flock to Hietsu Beach, a sandy stretch in Helsinki, to exercise, splash and attempt to tan.

Amid a late July, record-breaking heat wave, a very different flock has also been stalking the surf around Finland’s capital: barnacle geese — white-faced, black-backed and ever-present. At night, they roost by the water’s edge. Come daytime, as people spread out their towels, they waddle away, leaving small mountains of excrement in their tracks.

“There can be a shocking amount of poop,” acknowledged Jukka Lundgren, the manager of Helsinki’s public beaches, who has spent 15 of his 18 years on the job trying to keep the sand from looking like a goose litter box. » | Amelia Nierenberg and Johanna Lemola| Johanna Lemola dodged geese, and their poop, while reporting in Helsinki, Finland, and Amelia Nierenberg spoke to geese experts from London. | Friday, July 29, 2025

Denmark and Finland Urge Caution for US-bound Transgender People

THE GUARDIAN: Travel advice updated amid reports of ordeals at US border after Trump said country would only recognise two genders

Denmark and Finland have updated their US travel advice for transgender people, joining the handful of European countries that have sought to caution US-bound travellers in recent weeks as reports emerge of ordeals at the American border.

Denmark said this week it had begun advising transgender travellers to contact the US embassy in Copenhagen before departure to ensure there would be no issues with travel documents.

The change came after Donald Trump made a priority of rolling back trans and non-binary rights, announcing that the US would only recognise two genders and signing off on executive orders that sought to exclude transgender people from the US military, limit their access to sport and curtail gender-transition procedures for people under the age of 19.

The Danish foreign ministry made no mention of Trump but noted that the application form for the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization allows travellers to choose only male or female. Danish law, in contrast, allows citizens to identify their gender as X. » | Ashifa Kassam | Friday, March 21, 2025

A Baltic Warning: What Ukraine War Means for Europe—and the Russian Perspective

Mar 1, 2025 | On the GZERO World Podcast, we're bringing you two starkly different views on Ukraine's future and European security. First, Ian Bremmer speaks with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže about the growing security threats facing the Baltics—from cyberattacks and disinformation to undersea sabotage in the Baltic Sea. When an oil tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet recently severed a vital power cable between Estonia and Finland, it was a stark reminder of how hybrid warfare is playing out beyond the battlefield. Braže warns that Putin’s ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine, aiming to weaken US alliances and destabilize Europe. She also pushes back against claims that Ukraine's NATO ambitions provoked the war, calling them “complete nonsense,” and outlines why Latvia is boosting its defense spending to 5% of GDP.

The conversation then shifts to Moscow, where Bremmer speaks with former Russian colonel and ex-Carnegie Moscow Center director Dmitri Trenin. Once considered a pro-Western voice, Trenin’s views now align closely with the Kremlin. He argues that the fate of Ukraine should be decided primarily by Russia and the United States—not Ukraine or Europe.

Host: Ian Bremmer
Guest: Baiba Braže & Dmitri Trenin

Finnish President to Trump: If Putin Wins in Ukraine, the US Loses

REUTERS: Stubb says he has 'no concerns' about the strength of NATO alliance / Finland joined NATO in 2023, doubling its border with Russia / Stubb outlines phased peace plan for Ukraine, stresses EU and NATO membership

KYIV, Feb 24 - The United States will lose if Russia wins its war in Ukraine, Finland's president said on Monday, as fears mount in Europe about President Donald Trump's intentions three years after Moscow's invasion.

"The war in Ukraine is not only about Ukrainian independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity - it is about European security, and it is about American leadership," President Alexander Stubb told Reuters in an interview in Ukraine's capital. » | Max Hunder | Monday, February 24, 2025

Europe’s ‘Holiday from History Is Now Over’, Finnish President Stubb Tells Euronews

Jan 14, 2025 | "It is in our vested self-interest to promote and spend more on defence," Finnish president Alexander Stubb tells Euronews.

Young Finnish Men Baffle Experts by Embracing Monastic Life

YAHOO! NEWS: Early starts, strict routines and discipline: more and more young men in Finland are being drawn to the rigours of monastic life and its conservative values.

In such a secular and progressive country, where experts had expected the young to be less religious, Christianity has been gaining ground -- among young men at least.

Inside the dazzling white Valamo monastery, the country's only Eastern Orthodox abbey, the day begins at 6:00 am with prayers, followed by breakfast and chores. Life here is much as it has been for hundreds of years.

But despite the spartan life, the brotherhood has been growing fast, expanding from around 10 monks to 18 in a few years. » | Anna Korkman | Monday, September 16, 2024

Video here.

Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister: ‘Best Way to Tackle Russian Threat Is to Keep Aiding Ukraine’

Jul 10, 2024 | Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen discusses Ukraine’s NATO Membership, Finland’s support for NATO, and its reservist army, which she says is the strongest reservist army in Europe. According to a Helsinki University-led security policy poll from 2023, 80 percent of Finns support the country’s membership in NATO.

Finland Steps Up Border Closings in Dispute With Russia

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The escalation comes as Finland tries to address a rise in the arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers that officials blame on Moscow.

Finnish border guards escorting migrants at the international crossing with Russia near Salla, Finland, on Thursday. | Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva, via Associated Press
Finland is closing all but one of its land border crossings with Russia, escalating a standoff between the two countries over an influx of migrants that Finnish officials blame on Moscow.

Starting on Friday, only the Raja-Jooseppi crossing in northern Lapland will stay open to travelers, while all seven other land crossings will be closed. Last week, Finland closed four of the entry points.

“Russia has sought for years to cause discord, to shake unity in Europe and to weaken the Western alliance and international rules-based order,” the Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, said in a televised address to Parliament on Thursday. “Our national response must be clear and strong.”

He had previously said the situation at the border was deteriorating amid signs that the Russian authorities were helping asylum seekers make their way to the country.

“Finland cannot be influenced,” he said. “Finland cannot be shaken.” » | Johanna Lemola and Emma Bubola | Johanna Lemola reported from Helsinki, Finland, and Emma Bubola from London. | Thursday, November 23, 2023

Finland’s President, No Stranger to Russia, Warns Europe About Complacency

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Biden has consulted Sauli Niinisto throughout Russia’s war against Ukraine. Europeans should not dismiss the risks of a wider war, he says.

The president of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, is the person considered most responsible for bringing his country into the NATO alliance — and Sweden, too, which is awaiting ratification — following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Biden has consulted him about Russia and its president, Vladimir V. Putin, whom Mr. Niinisto has met numerous times.

In a long interview in his light-filled modernist residence in Helsinki, Mr. Niinisto warned European leaders and citizens not to become complacent over the risks of escalation in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine will last a long time, he said, and wars can take unexpected paths, even toward the use of nuclear weapons.

The invasion, Mr. Niinisto said, was “a wake-up call” for Europe and NATO. » | Steven Erlanger, Reporting from Helsinki, Finland | Sunday, September 17, 2023

Finnish Politician Could Face Jail Time after Sharing Bible Verse

Aug 10, 2023 | A Finnish politician on trial for sharing her biblical views on sexuality is heading back to court later this month as her four-year legal battle stretches on. Dr. Päivi Räsänen, the embattled member of Finland’s parliament, told CBN's Faithwire [that] a hearing in a prosecutor's appeal after she was cleared of hate speech charges last year is scheduled for Aug. 31. She said she's prepared to defend herself in any and all necessary courts of law.

"It was four years ago in June 2019 when I posted a Twitter post and also to Facebook, and it was about the Pride event that was going on, and the main church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, decided to support it officially," Räsänen said. "And it was a shock to me, and as a member of that church ... I asked the leadership of my church ... how is it possible that you are supporting something, as a matter of pride, what the Bible calls shame and sin."

Her simple social media post, which included Scripture from the Book of Romans, soon landed her in legal hot water, as a citizen made a criminal complaint. Then other past comments from Räsänen came under scrutiny. Another complaint was reportedly filed over a radio program she was on and another over an old pamphlet she wrote about same-sex relationships. Police interrogated Räsänen over her views and Finnish prosecutors decided to up the ante and file charges.

"I was first interrogated by the police altogether 13 hours," Räsänen said. "And I have to say that the situation was really absurd, because just some years ago I was a minister of interior in charge of police." Räsänen was accused of "inciting against sexual minorities," a charge which could carry two years in jail, or a fine. Listen to her story…


It seems clear to me that we, on this side of the Pond, need to have a written constitution so that we know exactly what can and cannot be said, or written.

I have raised this point before in a newspaper comment in the Telegraph. Here in the UK, there have been so many changes in the make-up of the country and in the nation's value systems, and in a very short time, that it has become very difficult to know exactly what may, or may not, be said or stated without falling foul of the law.

Americans, by contrast, do not have this problem, because they have a written constitution guaranteeing freedom of speech in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. We Brits, however, have no such clear determination or understanding of freedom of speech or expression. In the UK, it is a fudge. Yes, we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression, but with restrictions. (See here). Where there are restrictions, there is no total freedom. So the whole thing is left open to another’s interpretation of what is right and/or fair.

This might have been acceptable and workable in a bygone age, whilst the nation was made up of the indigenous peoples of the UK, who were largely Christian in belief and lifestyle. But today, this is clearly not the case. Today, we have a hotchpotch of beliefs and non-belief, and a hotchpotch of sexual orientations, too. All must somehow live together in total harmony. But for this total harmony to be facilitated, people need to know exactly where they stand and they need to know exactly what can and what cannot be said, or written. A written constitution is the answer. – © Mark Alexander

Finnish Far-right Finance Minister Accused of Racist Online Comments

THE GUARDIAN: Riikka Purra says she will not resign after being linked to racial slurs and threats of violence made in 2008

Finland’s new rightwing government has been plunged into fresh controversy after the discovery of racist and sometimes violent blogpost comments apparently written by the far-right Finns party leader and finance minister, Riikka Purra.

Purra, whose nationalist, anti-immigration party finished second in April’s elections and holds nine cabinet posts, has neither confirmed nor denied writing the posts, which date mostly to 2008, and said she had no intention of resigning – although on Tuesday she issued a broad apology for “stupid social media comments”.

The comments, made under the username “riikka” on the blog of Purra’s predecessor as Finns party leader, Jussi Halla-aho, included uses of the Finnish equivalent of the N-word, other racial and anti-immigrant slurs, and threats of violence. » | Jon Henley, Europe editor | Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Finland's Economy Minister Resigns after 10 Days over Nazi References

Vilhelm Junnila apologised for his remarks but has now stepped down from his ministerial position | REUTERS
BBC: Finland's new economy minister has resigned after just 10 days in office over remarks he made at a far-right event four years ago.

Vilhelm Junnila, of the nationalist Finns Party, has been accused of making repeated Nazi references.

He apologised and survived a no-confidence vote, but announced his resignation on Friday.

Mr Junnila said he was stepping down so as not to harm the reputation of both the government and Finland.

"I see that it is impossible for me to continue as a minister in a satisfactory way," Mr Junnila added in a statement.

His resignation comes after it emerged he addressed a Nationalist Alliance event in the south-western city of Turku in 2019. » | James Gregory, BBC News | Friday, June 30, 2023

Under-fire Finnish PM Sanna Marin Says Even Politicians Need Fun

THE GUARDIAN: Leader says week in she was forced to defend her private life has been ‘difficult’

Finland’s prime minister, Sanna Marin, at a meeting of her Social Democratic party on 24 August 2022. Photograph: LEHTIKUVA/Reuters
Sanna Marin has insisted she works hard as Finland’s prime minister but should also be entitled to a private life, after a photograph taken at her residence of two topless women kissing sparked renewed criticism of her partying.

“I am human,” Marin told reporters on Wednesday at the conference of her Social Democratic party, describing the past week as “quite difficult”. On the verge of tears, she said she too sometimes longs “for joy, light and fun amidst the dark clouds”.

The 36-year-old, the world’s youngest head of government when she was elected in 2019, added: “I haven’t missed a single day of work. I want to believe people will look at what we do at work rather than what we do in our spare time.”

She said she had not left “a single task undone – and I won’t leave this one in the middle either. I’m learning. But I am doing my job as well as I have been up to now. I’m thinking about Ukraine, I’m thinking about you, and I’m doing my job.”

On Tuesday, Marin apologised for the photograph, which first appeared on the TikTok account of the model and influencer Sabina Särkkä. It shows her and another woman – not Marin – kissing and lifting up their tops, with a “Finland” sign over their breasts. » | Jon Henley, Europe correspondent | Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Finns Are Ready to Fight Any Russian Attack, Says Armed Forces Chief

THE GUARDIAN: Gen Timo Kivinen says Nato applicant is prepared and motivated to defend against neighbour and would be ‘tough bite’ to chew

Timo Kivinen, Finland's chief of defence forces, says: ‘The most important line of defence is between one’s ears, as the war in Ukraine proves.’ Photograph: Anne Kauranen/Reuters
Finland has prepared for decades for a Russian attack and would put up stiff resistance should one occur, its armed forces chief has said.

The Nordic country has built up a substantial arsenal. But aside from the military hardware, Gen Timo Kivinen said, a crucial factor is that Finns would be motivated to fight.

“The most important line of defence is between one’s ears, as the war in Ukraine proves at the moment,” Kivinen said in an interview.

Finland fought two wars in the 1940s against its eastern neighbour, with which it shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border.

Once a non-aligned country, it is now applying to join the Nato military alliance over concerns that Russia could invade like it did Ukraine on 24 February. Since the second world war, Helsinki has kept up a high level of military preparedness. » | Reuters in Helsinki | Wednesday, June 22, 2022