This is how Petteri Orpo uses his power behind the scenes

It is forbidden to enter the upper floors of the Europa building in Brussels without a security escort. One is needed to get to the premises of the Finnish delegation on the 4th floor.

The prime minister in charge of EU policy Petteri Orpo (cook) arrives and sits down on the zebra print Alvar Aalton for the “tank chair”.

Orpo tells what issues he plans to push for at the EU leaders’ summit on Thursday.

“Here, the idea of ​​supporting Ukraine cannot waver at all, and we must not wait to see what the United States will do.”

According to the Prime Minister, there is now a “certain uncertainty” associated with US policy, and at the same time, we are living in critical moments on the Ukrainian front.

“That’s why we must now support Ukraine militarily, economically, politically and by all means so that they can stop Russia’s advance on the front. At the same time, we are strengthening Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table.”

“This needs to be understood here, and we also need to have a common message,” Orpo emphasizes.

Ukrainian assassination

The bloody war took a new turn on Tuesday when Ukraine announced that its security services had killed a Russian army lieutenant general in charge of chemical weapons Igor Kirillovin and his assistant.

Orpo considers the assassination “part of a terrible war.”

However, the Prime Minister quickly turns the conversation to Russian atrocities.

“Every night and day, Russia kills and bombs – not only soldiers on the front – but civilians, women, children and the elderly.”

Another theme that Prime Minister Orpo wants to get across at the summit is that “everyone understands that the Russian threat is real”.

“There is nothing nice about the Russia that can be found over there if peace is achieved, but Russia is a permanent threat to Europe.”

“That’s why Europe’s defense must be strengthened and support for Ukraine must be continued,” says Orpo.

The prime minister’s area of ​​influence is especially the southern and western countries of the EU, because for them supporting Ukraine is not as clear as it is for the countries bordering Russia.

“For those who are further away, the Russian threat may not be so clear in their minds.”

According to Orpo, a consensus on support for Ukraine and strengthening of European defense is needed, because the Commission’s new program and future financial framework are currently being worked out, in which support for Ukraine and strengthening of defense will be concreted into euros.

58 billion

The EU has already made its part in the decisions, thanks to which Ukraine will receive 58 billion euros in support money next year.

Of this, 18 billion is coming from the United States, 9 billion from other G7 countries and 18 billion from the EU.

In addition, the EU will finance Ukraine next year with 12.5 billion euros through the Ukraine support instrument.

“The expectation is that the United States will also do its part by the turn of the year, when the support would start immediately,” says Orpo.

If Donald Trump’s the soon-to-be-led United States would opt out of support for some reason, Orpo believes that the EU will then find the readiness to act as a payer.

According to Orpo, no new monetary decisions will be made at Thursday’s summit, which means that Hungary, which has blocked several aid packages, will not be able to cross paths.

The Prime Minister estimates that after Trump’s election in the EU, “the degree of seriousness is now tougher”.

It can also be seen by the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Ruttenin speeches.

He has insisted that Europe must switch to “wartime thinking” as Russia prepares for a long-term confrontation with both Ukraine and Europe.

Orpo interprets Rutte’s speeches as awakening the EU.

“That’s right, because many people don’t think the threat to Russia is real and serious.”

According to Orpo, the best way to prevent a war with Russia is to build such a strong deterrent that we don’t have to go to war.

The NATO Secretary General also demands that the European NATO countries must spend more money on their defense than the current two percent of the gross domestic product.

Discussions have talked about a level of 2.5–3 percent.

Orpo does not say Finland’s position on these figures, but it is clear to him that the share of defense spending will increase.

“Discussions will take place during the spring, when we will see where the figure settles.”

The Prime Minister emphasizes that the assessment must be based on the threat and needs.

Orphan tactics

At the summit, influencing EU leaders is handled both at the meeting table and during breaks in bilateral discussions.

Orpo says that his influence is based on personal relationships.

“I have invested a lot since the beginning in getting personal contact with my colleagues.”

How does that happen?

“Simply just by going to chat, being interested, and not just minding your own business. It always works.”

The Prime Minister also says that he would be happy to invite his colleagues to Finland.

“I always wonder if there is someone I haven’t heard from in a long time, or I don’t know, and I go and talk.”

“So far, no one has refused to talk,” Orpo laughs.

The closest colleagues can be found in the Nordic countries, the Baltics and Poland.

“We are in constant contact with (the Prime Minister of Poland) Donald Hardly with whom I currently consider to be one of the most influential in Europe.”

According to the Prime Minister, he also has a “very confidential” relationship with the chairman of the commission Ursula von der Leyeniin.

“I’ve realized that he also trusts,” says Orpo.

Trump’s line

It has been feared in Europe that Trump will start negotiating peace with Putin over the heads of Ukraine and Europe.

This does not seem to have happened so far.

Orpo emphasizes fair peace terms, and that “Putin must not come out of the negotiation table as a winner.”

The Prime Minister emphasizes that Ukraine must retain its right to self-determination, which means that the country can apply for EU and NATO membership and also be elected.

According to media reports, Trump does not intend to send American troops to guarantee Ukraine’s security, in which case European countries would have to send troops to Ukraine to ensure security guarantees.

On Wednesday evening, negotiations between France, Germany, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Great Britain, Ukraine and the Secretary General of NATO and the President of the EU Commission took place in Brussels on the peace plan for Ukraine and the possibility of sending peacekeeping forces to the country.

The European troops are supposed to be sent only after a ceasefire or a peace agreement has been reached between Ukraine and Russia.

Orpo says that he doesn’t mind if the big EU countries sit at the negotiating table, but Finland doesn’t.

Denmark represented the Nordic and Baltic countries at the meeting.

“Now that we are negotiating in different groups, it is essential that we be able to form one strong message.”

Orpo says that while the war is still going on, Finnish soldiers are needed to secure the Russian border, but after a ceasefire or a peace treaty, the situation is different.

“Finland has expertise in traditional peacekeeping operations, as well as in civilian crisis management and reconstruction, so yes, in that situation, we will certainly find a lot that we can do.”

However, the Prime Minister emphasizes that, at the moment, Ukraine needs weapons above all else.

Ukraine especially needs anti-aircraft equipment, but their additional supply is in the hands of the member states.

The interview has to be stopped because the Prime Minister has to return to the meeting.

Orpo gets up and leaves the premises of the Finnish delegation to the corners of the Europa building.

That’s how it was decided

In light of the resolutions of the EU summit that ended on Thursday, Orpo’s message seems to have been received.

The EU countries unanimously decided to continue supporting Ukraine as long and strongly as the need requires.

The European Council also emphasizes that a just peace must be achieved in Ukraine, and that no initiatives regarding it can be made without Ukraine’s participation.

The hot potato of the summit discussions concerned Ukraine’s security guarantees.

Ukraine also wants the United States to join the security guarantees, but Trump has pushed the responsibility on the EU, so the matter continues to be discussed.

The EU countries announced that they will continue to exert international influence and participate in discussions that affect not only Ukraine but also European security.

Regarding Russia, the EU is trying to make more decisions so that the country’s war coffers are not fattened and sanctions are not circumvented through third countries.

The EU countries also expressed their support for Ukraine’s reform efforts on the “European path”.