Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Wednesday that Russia is unmistakably gearing up for a "long conflict" with Western nations and poses a sustained and fundamental military menace to Europe.
In a speech at the European Parliament published by the government, Orpo warned that "the coming years will be filled with danger and the looming threat of attack," if united European members "fail to respond sufficiently to this challenge" as "Russia is evidently preparing for a long conflict".
"The ongoing war in Ukraine is not just a conflict on our continent's borders; it is a stark reminder of the fragility of our peace […] Finland, which shares a long border – more than 1,300 kilometres – with Russia, understands the significance of this moment. Finland has never dropped the ball when it comes to security and defense," he stressed.
