“Putin wants motivation to wane” – Häkkänen tells what Europe must do immediately

Defense secretary Antti Häkkänen (kok) arrives on Wednesday evening in the small lounge of the Justus Lipsius building in the EU quarter of Brussels. The minister is having a defense policy super week. He will participate in the EU Defense Ministers’ Meeting on Wednesday and the NATO Defense Ministers’ Meeting on Thursday. From Brussels, Häkkänen will head to the Munich Security Conference starting on Friday.

The Minister of Defense has a little time before the ministerial dinner to analyze the state of European defense for Finnish journalists and to tell what are the most important things from Europe’s point of view that need to be fixed.

Let’s start with Ukraine. According to Häkkänen, the EU has spent too much time on thin compromises in recent years, when there would have been decisions on the table that would have actually weakened Russia’s military apparatus and secured Ukraine.

According to Häkkänen, there are now two pillars to focus on: Europe must give more support to Ukraine and create stricter sanctions on Russia.

The EU has recently approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027. Ukraine can use 60 billion euros of the amount to strengthen its defense, but according to Häkkänen, the amount of support is not enough.

“It’s only half of what’s needed,” he says.

This year is the first in which the support for Ukraine has been transferred entirely to the responsibility of the Europeans. Previously, the United States was also responsible for financing Ukraine.

According to Häkkänen, the member states should agree on bilateral funding for Ukraine with national shares tied to the gross domestic product.

“We need a 3-4 year financial commitment. Then Putin would see that Ukraine does not bend.”

“We mustn’t drop the gloves now, that’s exactly what Putin wants, that the motivation fades from the member countries,” says Häkkänen.

Along with Ukraine’s funding, another problem is that Russian sanctions are leaking: Western components are still found in Russian missiles and drones. At the same time, oil export revenues keep Russia’s military economy afloat.

“If the components of long-distance influence run out, the impact will be big, and if the flow of oil money is properly restricted together with the United States, that will matter,” says Häkkänen.

No insurance

Häkkä is not assured by the progress of Europe’s defense capability.

According to the minister, each institution has its own point of view on things, even though in Europe mostly the same countries are involved in both NATO and the EU.

Häkkänen reminds that there are three defense actors in Europe, the first of which is the member countries. The second is NATO, whose task is to coordinate the power of the member countries into a common alliance. The EU’s task, on the other hand, is to stimulate defense industry projects and promote military mobility.

The minister hopes that European countries would understand the importance of Europe’s geopolitical big weather. It means that Russia is a threat and the United States is transferring more defense responsibility to European countries.

Häkkänen does not need more “surprise” of the situation from European decision-makers. He also does not need new initiatives and strategy papers, but strong implementation to strengthen the self-sufficiency of European defense.

The defense minister is not enthusiastic about the defense commissioner of the European Commission Andrius Kubiliuksen on the proposal that the EU should consider a permanent European force of 100,000 troops. Kubilius has also proposed a new European Security Council.

According to Häkkänen, the discussion about the European defense union is a waste of time, because the basic structure already exists and it is NATO.

“We don’t need a new defense union if the member countries do what was agreed upon in NATO last year.”

Häkkänen refers to the 5 percent defense spending targets locked in last year and the NDPP targets, which defined for each NATO country what kind of military and non-military capabilities the alliance needs to perform all its tasks.

Häkkänen reminds that the parliaments and governments of the member countries are now responsible for spending money to reach the agreed goals.

Scale bias

Häkkänen criticizes the EU for the delusion of scale in boosting European defense. According to the minister, it would require around 600–1000 billion euros annually, while the EU is talking about around 20–30 billion in the future financial framework.

“What is the added value of the EU that is sought here?” Häkkänen wonders.

According to the minister, the EU needs to grow “bigger muscles” in order to obtain concreteness and the right proportions, which is required to respond to the threat posed by Russia.

He reminds that immediately after the war in Ukraine, a phase will begin in which Russia has an army of millions, and the country will develop all aspects of its defense with great force.

“Only by strengthening one’s own defense can the Russian threat be reduced,” says Häkkänen.

It requires Europe’s political will to act.

“Russia is always encouraged if the West is weak. That’s why everyone has to do their part now,” says Häkkänen.