Finnish President Alexander Stubb has declared that Russia will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, pointing to strong deterrence from China.
Speaking in an interview with German news outlet BILD, Stubb revealed that he had raised the issue of nuclear escalation directly with the visiting Chinese foreign minister, who assured him that Beijing would never allow nuclear weapons to be deployed.
Stubb noted that China's explicit opposition serves as an effective safeguard against Russian nuclear deployment. Finland shares a long eastern border with Russia and joined NATO following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, giving its leadership a direct role in regional defense monitoring.
Economic resilience and NATO security
Stubb also dismissed suggestions that ongoing economic difficulties inside Russia would force Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. He stated that observers should never underestimate Russia's capacity to withstand severe economic hardship, citing the Soviet era as proof of its ability to endure long periods of financial strain.
Addressing fears of wider aggression, the Finnish president commented on the likelihood of Russia mounting an attack against NATO member states. Stubb said that while absolute certainty is impossible, current monitoring, intelligence reports, and strategic discussions show no indication of such an attempt at present.
The primary reason for this, Stubb explained, is that Russian military forces are fully committed to fighting in Ukraine, where they are experiencing personnel shortages. In an increasingly complex global landscape, he added that Moscow lacks the troops necessary to mobilize suddenly across two active fronts.
German sanctions over drone plot
His comments come amid broader concerns over Russian covert operations in Europe. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing to hold Russia officially responsible for a recent attempted drone attack targeting Leipzig.
Merz is preparing to announce major sanctions in response to the incident. Leipzig, a major transport and economic hub in eastern Germany, has been on high alert following a series of suspected foreign interference and sabotage attempts across Western Europe.
