Ruska 22 air operations exercise of the Finnish Air Force in Rovaniemi, Finland. Finnish Reservists’ Association: Many volunteers ready if government sends peacekeepers to Ukraine. LEHTIKUVA
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A record number of Finnish reservists have volunteered for international peacekeeping missions, with many expressing readiness to join a potential operation in Ukraine. The Finnish Reservists’ Association has reported the highest level of interest in 20 years, with over 3,000 reservists applying for military crisis management roles in 2024.
The possibility of sending European peacekeepers to Ukraine gained traction after Emmanuel Macron proposed the idea in January.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indicated that securing the extensive front line would require around 100,000 troops, though initial plans from European partners suggest a force of 25,000 to 30,000.
While discussions on peacekeeping remain speculative, Finland has established procedures for participating in United Nations-led operations. Any Finnish involvement would likely consist of volunteer reservists and a limited number of permanent Defence Forces personnel.
Minna Nenonen, Executive Director of the Finnish Reservists’ Association, confirmed that the organisation would support a government decision on deployment if one is made. “We trust that whatever our leadership decides is best, the association will support that decision,” she said.
The Finnish government has not made any commitments, but it has not ruled out participation. Security experts caution that any mission would require careful planning, as Russia has rejected the presence of Nato troops in Ukraine and could test the resolve of peacekeepers.
Finland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. In April 2024, it signed a ten-year security cooperation agreement with Ukraine and has since provided 27 military aid packages worth nearly €200 million.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
