Stubb: If Ukraine's air defense system had reached the level of the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine conflict could have ended earlier
President of Finland Stubb stated that if Ukraine had been able to obtain the same level of air defense protection as the Gulf countries deployed in the first week of the conflict in the Middle East, the situation in Russia-Ukraine would have been completely different.
He pointed out in an interview with Bloomberg that the war in Iran cost about $4 billion in the first week, which is equivalent to the total annual aid provided by European countries to Ukraine.
He also said that Ukraine can currently benefit from the conflict in the Middle East because it has hindered cooperation between Russia and Iran in the military field.
The attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, as well as Tehran's retaliation against U.S. bases in several countries in the Middle East and its surrounding areas, mean that Iran and Russia are currently unable to cooperate in the fields of missiles and defense industry.
Additionally, the global focus shifting to Iran has created space for diplomatic negotiations on the Ukraine issue, allowing negotiators to seek solutions with less public attention.
However, he also emphasized that Russia has built two "Shahed" drone production plants based on Iranian technology. He believes that another negative impact of the Middle East conflict is the rise in oil prices, and Russia, as a major producer and exporter of crude oil, benefits financially from the rising oil prices, which actually funds its war machine.
Additionally, he explained how Finland prepares for Russian attacks: Finland implements conscription, which is different from most NATO member states. The country can mobilize 280,000 soldiers within a few weeks.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859025147650060/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.