Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson (L) and Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo visit the Hanaholmen Cultural Centre in Espoo, Finland, on December 2, 2025. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Finland will not offer NATO-style security guarantees to Ukraine, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Espoo, Orpo confirmed that Finland is prepared to assist in developing Ukraine’s security structures, but not to provide commitments comparable to NATO’s Article 5.
“There is a significant difference between guarantees and arrangements. We are not ready to offer guarantees,” Orpo said.
The statement follows reports of a leaked draft agreement by the United States, which reportedly includes Article 5-style promises to Ukraine. The document names several NATO countries, including Finland, as possible parties to a parallel security pact.
Orpo said Finland had not seen the details of the proposed guarantees and had not been consulted about its mention in the US draft.
“We have not seen any specific proposal or detailed plan. We have no information on the exact nature of the guarantees being considered,” he said.
Orpo emphasised that only major powers such as the United States or larger European countries could realistically commit to security guarantees. He repeated that Finland’s role would be limited to helping Ukraine through logistical and organisational support.
“The difference is enormous,” he added.
Kristersson, standing alongside Orpo, said he would not comment directly on the guarantee issue but stated that Ukraine’s strongest protection is its own armed forces. He said European support should focus on helping Ukraine maintain a capable military.
“The most important security guarantee is a strong Ukrainian army,” Kristersson said.
He also mentioned that several European countries are preparing their own forms of participation in supporting Ukraine’s security, including military training and arms supplies. This would require funding, and discussions continue over the use of frozen Russian assets for that purpose.
The comments by both leaders drew a clear distinction between security assistance and mutual defence obligations. Orpo noted that the coalition of willing European states, which has been preparing to help Ukraine protect key infrastructure, differs fundamentally from the guarantees raised in the US-led initiative.
The Finnish government has so far focused on expanding military training and material aid for Ukraine. There has been no public discussion of joining a pact that would obligate direct defence in case of future attacks by Russia.
In the leaked US proposal, the suggested guarantees resemble NATO’s collective defence clause, implying that signatory countries would intervene militarily if Ukraine were attacked again. Orpo dismissed this as a serious commitment Finland is not prepared to make.
Orpo said the issue had not been discussed at the national level, and Finland had no intention of entering negotiations to offer mutual defence obligations.
US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today.
Orpo said the outcome of that meeting should not be speculated on in advance.
“The question is whether Russia is serious,” he said.
Kristersson agreed, noting that there had been no visible sign from Russia suggesting readiness for a ceasefire or negotiations.
“No indication of peace from Russia so far,” Kristersson said.
The US proposal has raised questions within Europe about the extent of commitments being discussed. While several EU states have been negotiating support frameworks for Ukraine, none have so far confirmed plans resembling NATO’s core defence obligations.
Kristersson said that US involvement is critical to the credibility of any long-term security structure for Ukraine.
“Without the United States, it would not be believable,” he said..
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
