NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Helsinki today. Here’s what he said in a press conference with Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Helsinki answering the questions of the media before SAMAK’s annual meeting on February 28, 2023. Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY

“The time is now to ratify and to welcome both Finland and Sweden [to NATO].” “The time is now to ratify in Budapest and Ankara,” said NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, in Helsinki during the annual meeting of the Co-Operation Committee of the Nordic Social Democratic parties and trade union LOs (SAMAK) on Tuesday.

Stoltenberg was speaking in a press conference with the Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin (SDP), before stepping behind the podium to deliver his official speech where he said:

“We may be shocked by the brutality of the war in Ukraine.

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But we should not be surprised.

This is part of a pattern of Russian aggression over many years.

In Grozny.

In Georgia.

In Aleppo.

In Crimea and Donbas.

And now, a full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.”

Prime Minister Sanna Marin thinks it’s a burden for NATO to face delays in the ratification process when Finland fulfills all the criteria. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is observing behind. Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY

Prime Minister Marin stressed in the press conference that “we must support Ukraine as long as it takes.”

“They also need heavy weapons. The faster and sooner we can give them heavy weapons, the sooner the war will end,” Marin said.

So far, as far as heavy weaponry is concerned, Finland has agreed to send three Leopard 2 tanks suitable for mine clearing to Ukraine, and Finland will also include training related to their use and maintenance. The total value of this aid package, according to the Ministry of Defence, is over €160 million. The combined value of all defense material packages submitted so far is now €750 million.

But Prime Minister Marin also expressed her frustration over the ratification process.

“The situation where all countries have not ratified yet, I think gives a burden to NATO because we are fulfilling all the criteria. There shouldn’t be any problems when it comes to our membership, and I’m hoping this ratification will end as soon as possible.”

Of 30 NATO members in the military alliance 28 have ratified Finland’s membership. Only Turkey and Hungary haven’t for reasons unknown at this writing.

However, Secretary General Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Marin remain optimistic.

“I am confident that Finland and Sweden will become members of NATO,” Stoltenberg said.

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