As if he didn’t expect it. Always an ardent supporter of NATO membership, Alexander Stubb could not hide the joy of our telephone conversation. Indicative is the moment when he joked that the Euro-Atlantic Alliance was getting another white and blue flag, along with the flag of Greece.

Finland’s accession enhances NATO’s security. First of all, it brings skill. Our country has one of the largest armies in Europe with 900,000 men in reserve. It also has 60 F-18s and 64 F-35s and one of the most advanced missile defense systems in the world. In this way, we ensure the security and capabilities of NATO. In addition, we offer labor in the sense that we have the highest will in Europe – more than 80% of Finns are ready to die to defend their country. In addition, Finland is a truly reliable partner for NATO. We are reasonable, calm and cool-headed. In other words, we have a Scandinavian profile. At the same time, combined with the planned entry of Sweden, the entire Baltic Sea region will, in fact, become a NATO lake that will maintain security in northern and northeastern Europe. Well, there will be no more loopholes in the system. From our side, of course, we get nothing more than Article 5, that is, the paragraph on guarantees of collective defense and security in the event of an attack on us.

– Absolutely. After all, the war in Ukraine in itself is a failure for him. Let’s remember what he was trying to achieve. At first he was looking for Russian Ukraine: but he got European Ukraine. Secondly, he wanted to divide the European Union: I have never seen him more united. Third, he wanted to share transatlantic cooperation: but now he is back where he was during the Cold War. Fourth, he wanted to divide NATO: but NATO returned to its original role of acting as a deterrent to a major aggressor – first it was the Soviet Union, now it’s Russia. Fifthly, Putin did not want to expand NATO: but now NATO is expanding, and it will not stop there – I think that eventually all of Europe will join the alliance. And this, quite simply, is due to his own aggression. For no other reason.

I am convinced that Sweden will also become a member of NATO by the July Vilnius conference.

– The message is twofold. From NATO: the right of each country to decide which club of countries it wants to join. From Finland: We wouldn’t have joined NATO if not for Putin’s aggression – and once we join, our profile will become Scandinavian: we will strengthen security, not reduce it.

– It doesn’t really bother me. Indeed, external influences influenced the process. Ideally, Finland and Sweden would like to join NATO together, at the same time. Since it was impossible, we decided to go separately. But I am convinced that Sweden will also become a NATO member by the Vilnius conference in July.

– We’re at an impasse. I personally do not believe that we will find ourselves in a “frozen” conflict. Unfortunately, the war will continue. At some point, one of the two sides – hopefully Russia – will come to the conclusion that the price of continuation will now be too high. When will it happen; I really do not know.