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It's morally and strategically inexcusable for Russia to outspend Ukraine on defence, says Sanna Marin

Former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin says Europe's response to Ukraine has fallen short.

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Finland's former Prime Minister Sanna Marin says that only 0.2 percent of Europe's GDP would be enough to close the resource gap between Ukraine and Russia. Image: Martin Divisek / EPA

Finland's former prime minister, Sanna Marin, has said it is both morally and strategically inexcusable for Russia to outspend Ukraine and its allies on defence.

"The outcome of the war in Ukraine is our choice," Marin wrote in the foreword to a report published this week by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, where she is employed.

"A mere 0.2 percent of Europe's GDP would be enough to close the gap in resources between Ukraine and Russia," said her introduction to the report titled "The Price of Peace in Ukraine and Europe."

Last fall, Russia announced it would increase its defence spending by 30 percent, raising it to about 13.5 trillion rubles, or approximately 134.2 billion euros. Ukraine's defence budget, including assistance from western countries, is about 95 billion euros, according to the institute's report.

"Europe can no longer rely on transatlantic value-based cooperation and support, and Europe will not be at the negotiating table where its future and security are decided…Europe must take leadership in its own security and strengthen its capabilities in strategic issues. There is no time to waste," she posted on messaging platform X on Sunday.


Auszüge, Quelle: https://yle.fi/a/74-20144020

The bears are back

The two brown bears at Korkeasaari Zoo, Julia and Sofia, have awakened from their winter slumber. On Thursday, the bears ventured out of their winter den to explore their snow-covered surroundings, according to Hufvudstadsbladet.

The bears rolled around in the snow and spent a good amount of time scratching their backs against a tree, the zoo said in a press release.

The bears went into hibernation in mid-November but already stirred at the beginning of the year when the weather was exceptionally mild, according to the zoo. The pair went back to sleep earlier this month when temperatures plunged.

In the far north of Finland, brown bears are known to hibernate for more than six months.