Addressing the opening of a course organised by the National Defence Training Association (MPK) on Monday, President Sauli Niinistö said that once it becomes a Nato member, Finland has no intention of bringing nuclear weapons onto its territory and there are no signs that anyone is offering nuclear arms to Finland.
However, Niinistö pointed out that nuclear weapons are an essential part of Nato's deterrence. He described them as a means of prevention, not an end in themselves.
A nuclear war cannot be won, and one should never take place, Niinistö stated.
Interim period not a worry
Assessing the timetable for Finland's ascension to Nato in remarks to the media, President Niinistö said the situation looks better now than a week or two ago. He did not take a more specific position on the timing, but said that he believes that membership will be realised "within a reasonable time".
President Niinistö said he is not worried about the interim period because 28 Nato member countries have already confirmed that they regard Finland and Sweden eligible for membership and that they deserve Article 5 support – this being Nato's collective defense obligation.
He added that that Turkey's criticism of the new Nato applicants has been more about Sweden's activities and policies than Finland's.
The president stated that Finland is not changing its actions in the face of Turkish demands. Finland has not assisted the Kurdish organisations Turkey objects to, but it has assisted the Kurds through international aid and will continue to do so.
Dialogue with Moscow
In his Monday address, President Niinistö also presented an evaluation of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. He stated that there is no end in sight for the war. According to Niinistö, neither party is compromising on their own initial positions.
He emphasised that Ukraine has the right to defend its own territorial integrity and legal borders, and Russia has had no right to attack Ukraine.
However, the president considered it dangerous that talk of war has also become so commonplace. Lasting security is not brought about by the continuation of conflict, only peace can do that, Niinistö stressed.
The president said that for the sake of peace, it is worth making efforts that may even be futile. He said that he therefore welcomed the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to maintain dialogue with Moscow.
"This is aimed at nothing more than stopping the killing. I think it's a worthy goal," Niinistö said in a media interview.
In the past few weeks, Niinistö has met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as well as talked by phone with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
After discussions with Kristersson, Niinistö said that he is "very optimistic" that Finland and Sweden will eventually become Nato members despite Turkey's reluctance to give them final approval. Until now, the biggest delay in the Nato membership process has been caused Turkey's demands, especially to Sweden, regarding what it regards as support for Kurdish terrorists.