LOS ANGELES (OC).–Deputy head of Russia’s National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev accused Finland of building launching pads on the Finish border to potentially attack Russia. Well, Medvedev has been prone to making provocative statements only recently saying the Ukraine’s actions opened the possibility of Moscow using nukes in the European Continent. So, when Medvedev makes statements they’re seen as largely hype. Finland wants no beef with the Russian Federation only recently April 4, 2023 joining NATO, once thought as unthinkable. Putin isn’t happy about NATO encroachment on the Russian Federation, citing Ukraine’s attempt to join NATO as an excuse to invade the country Feb. 24, 2022. Sweden defied Russia March 7, 2024 also joining NATO after remaining non-aligned since the end of WW II. Medvedev’s accusations are not taken lightly in the Kremlin.
Medvedev accused Finland of preparing a bridgehead to eventually attack Russia, something so unlikely and farfetched it doesn’t deserve a response. Russian President Vladimir Putin also sees the walls closing in on Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatening to join NATO, even though he’s been rejected for membership over the last three years. Zelensky wanted to join NATO so that the Western Alliance would defend Ukraine against Russian attacks, now getting more aggressive by the day. Striking the Ukrainian parliament Sept. 6, Zelensky said the Russian strikes only prove the Putin isn’t interest in peace talks. Zelensky urges the European Union [EU] and President Donald Trump to hit Putin with more economic sanctions. Putin said more sanctions from the U.S. or EU wouldn’t change the peace process or outcome of the war.
Putin finds himself boxed into a corner with the U.S. and EU opposing continued Russian air strikes on Ukraine. Trump threatened new sanctions on Putin if he doesn’t let up on the current air war on Kiev. Trump has been working hard to resolve the three-and-a-half year conflict, not looking to see it escalate. Zelensky, for his part, hasn’t done much to reassure Moscow that he takes the peace process seriously. Zelensky and EU officials have said publicly they plan on making no concessions with it comes to Ukraine’s sovereign land. Putin told Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff that Kiev must be prepared to trade land-for-peace, meaning Zelensky would have to accept Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine. If Zelensky said anything positive about compromising for peace, Putin would react differently, stop the aerial bombardment of Kiev.
Medvedev accuses Finland of building army structures in Lapland “in the immediate vicinity of the Russian border.” Russia sees NATO as a mortal enemy, looking to take over more Russian territory. But Finland or Sweden, both the new members of NATO, have no history of attacking Russia, actually just the opposite. All through the Cold War, Finland and Sweden did everything possible to cooperate and do business with the Russian Federation. Finland and Sweden brought copious amounts of Russia oil and natural gas. Only recently because of harsh economic sanctions has Sweden and Finland stopped buying natural gas and oil from the Kremlin. Medvedev claims that whatever structures are built in Lapland, they’re designed to deter Russia not toward armed conflict. Over eight years of cooperation proves Sweden and Finland have no such intent.
EU officials led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the recent Russian strike on Kiev’s parliament. “Once again, the Kremlin is mocking diplomacy, trampling on international law and killing indiscriminately,” von der Leyen said on X. Von der Leyen was recently quoted calling Putin a “predator,” not the kind of diplomatic language needed for peace talks. Von der Leyen talks like the EU is ready to take on the Russian Federation militarily, something of course they’re not prepared to do. Zelensky would relish the thought of the EU getting actively involved in battling the Kremlin. Other EU officials, like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, called Putin the most dangerous war criminal on the planet. What’s Trump supposed to do working hard to pull off a peace deal when the EU makes disparaging comments about Putin?
Medvedev serves notice on Finland that its military preparations in Lapland threaten the Russian Federation, knowing that Finland his no his history of aggression toward Russia. If you listened by von der Leyen and Merz, you’d think the EU is ready to take on the Kremlin militarily. Giving arms-and-cash to Ukraine certainly shows Putin that the EU is no an enemy of the Russian state. Trump said he’s considering new economic sanctions against Russia because of Putin’s ongoing aerial assault on Kiev. “Talking about peace while escalating bombing and targeting government buildings and home—this is Putin’s version of peace,” said European Council President Antonio Cost on X. EU officials have to decide whether they want peace or continued war with the Kremlin. All talk coming from the EU lately takes a more belligerent tone, not looking good for peace.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
