NEW YORK — Finnish President Alexander Stubb has a message to European partners amid growing warnings of further Russian escalation: Keep calm and carry on. In recent days, top European officials have ever-more-loudly sounded the alarm about intensifying Russian hybrid warfare, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warning that Moscow could send drones or missiles into the territory of NATO countries supporting Ukraine in “the next few months.” The head of the Czech security service warned that Russia could undertake “a limited incursion, false-flag provocations, a massive influence campaign” in a matter of “months, not years.” Yet Stubb has a different message. Although he acknowledges that Europe needs to prepare for “continued hybrid and sabotage attacks” by Russia, the Finnish president warns that Europe shouldn't “overreact,” as Moscow aims to scare allies into slowing down support for Ukraine.
And any time we overreact to a hybrid attack, they have actually won the battle in that particular way,” Stubb told POLITICO during an interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. You need to point the finger and say, we know what you’re doing and these are the consequences.” In contrast, however, Stubb pointed to the “overreaction” from some intelligence services which “basically say that, well, you’re next” for a Russian invasion.
But, you know, we have the longest border in NATO with Russia, it’s half the border. In our intelligence we see that there is activity but no imminent military threat right now.” Stubb also expressed tentative hopefulness concerning a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Tuesday.
Is he able to get Zelenskyy and Putin around the same table?” Stubb said, adding that this was “a possibility” and would be “a jackpot,” even though currently negotiations were still “far from that.” The Finnish president also pushed back against suggestions that he could be Europe’s top negotiator in upcoming peace talks with Russia.
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