President Alexander Stubb visits Ukraine
A 10-year long-term security agreement
Ukraine lowers conscription age to boost troop numbers
| Reuters/Yonhap News |
Finland has pledged additional military support to Ukraine, with which Russia is at war, through a security agreement that will last for ten years.
Reuters reported on the 3rd (local time) that Finnish President Alexander Stubb met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and signed a long-term security agreement. Finland also plans to provide military aid to Ukraine, including air defense and large-caliber ammunition, worth 188 million euros (approximately $203 million). President Stubb stated, “Finland’s military support is aimed at ensuring that Ukraine is not only able to defend itself but also to win the war.”
Finland has become the eighth North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member to sign long-term security agreements with Ukraine and pledge military support. Beginning with the United Kingdom in January, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and the Netherlands have signed security agreements with Ukraine. Finland, which shares a border of about 834 miles with Russia, joined NATO last April. Including this support, Finland’s total aid to Ukraine amounts to 2 billion euros (approximately $2.16 billion).
Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia for over two years, is being pushed back on major fronts due to a lack of troops and weapons. On the day, President Zelenskyy claimed that Russia plans to mobilize 300,000 new troops by June 1 for an offensive. Russia is also intensifying missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. President Zelenskyy said, “We clearly understand what Russia is preparing for, what it wants, and what it means to assemble soldiers in the army,” adding that he had discussed key plans with Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, including future defense and offense.
Ukraine is also hastening internal efforts to secure its military forces. The day before, President Zelenskyy signed an amendment to the Military Service Act, lowering the military conscription age from 27 to 25. He has been cautious, saying, “This is a very sensitive issue,” even as he said in December last year that “within a year, we will conscript another 500,000 people.”
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