Finland's President Niinisto: In poker terms, Putin went 'all in' | Talk to Al Jazeera

Finland shares a border with Russia that is more than 1,300 kilometres long, so maintaining neutrality in the power struggle between East and West has always been central to the country's survival.
The Nordic nation had previously refused to join NATO. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Helsinki put its historical neutrality aside and officially requested to join the West's major military alliance. In response, Moscow warned there could be political and military consequences.
So is a Russian offensive possible? And would Finland be prepared to face it?
The president of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, talks to Al Jazeera.
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[@yorkaturr]

The quote at the very beginning is translated from "Ruotsalaisia emme enää ole, venäläisiksi emme tahdo tulla, olkaamme siis suomalaisia". As a native Finnish speaker the accurate translation would be "Swedes we are no more, Russians we do not want to become, therefore let us be Finns". The invalid translation of "Russians we cannot become" would lead someone to believe that we actually would like to be Russians, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

[@erikvanderheeg5729]

Helt riktigt!

[@sdfswords]

Finnish sisu let the Russians know the difference in the Winter War. All of my Finnish cousins are excellent woodsmen/ marksmen, invading Finland would be folly. Our Finn family surnames are Sonnenen and Kreutz.

[@eliasnjetski1146]

Exakt! Hyvä! Olet oikeassa. Hälsningsfras från Sverige.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@sdfswords Both are Germanic-derived names. Sounds more like Finland-Swedes than Finns.

[@sdfswords]

@@finnicpatriot6399 I totally agree with you, my family were originally Swedes, which as you know was not that unusual.

[@billgibbard9449]

This man exemplifies the attitude of many, if not most, Finns. His soft-spoken demeanor flows from a core of deep thoughtfulness and understanding, realism, decency, and toughness. He, and the Finns, should not be underestimated.

[@jtekholm]

It will be a sad day when his presidency ends, and it's not far away. :/

[@ilarious5729]

@@jtekholm as sad as it might be, it's vital for it to end in the name of democracy and all that good stuff. But yeah I agree, he's been the best we've had for as long as I can remember.

[@jtekholm]

@@ilarious5729 Oh, for sure - I didn't mean to say that we should abolish the limit for presidents "reign". Just that like you said, Sale is one of a kind!

[@TommyTCGT]

@@jtekholm It will be a sad day when this idiot's country is demilítarised of nutto nooks.

[@radeee87]

@V M "Reckless beyond belief"? 🤣 No need to lob against nato anymore, that train is far gone already 😚 Vai vieläkö näistä kommenteista ruplan pari saa? 🤭

[@zhangshiyucao]

Watching this he seems like the embodiment of Finland: not a global actor, just wants to live in peace, distressed at why the other guys have to be so mean to each other

[@suutari13]

our leadership is doing as they are told and are at the moment in war with Russia and the idiots thinks the US army will help them, what a joke. They could not even win in Afghanistan. Oh wait they succeeded in their invasion of Grenada and Panama.

[@dennislindqvist8443]

It is unilateral Russia that is mean to Ukraine. Europe has not seen such atrocities since the Nazis.

[@MrBlaxjax]

That isn’t really the Finnish mindset at all. Sure, modern Finland is egalitarian, well educated, slightly eccentric and pretty wealthy. But traditionally the Finns were tough or even dangerous types. They are not going to wonder why other people are being so mean to me each other because they have a mean streak themselves. Really that’s one reason why it’s great to have the Finns in NATO.

[@kevinn1158]

@@kissaku As a Canadian, I'd say we are all wanting peace, until we play hockey.... then after the game we all go for a beer and back to enjoying peace. Repeat that cycle. ;). I would say the common Russian thinks this way as well.

[@robertbennett9949]

Finland's politicians have sold their countries future to the US They did not trust a referendum.

[@jetv1471]

I remember this man , when Pootin said “Finland can’t join NATO “ his response was “well with that you just forced our hand “. You don’t tell us what to do . Wise man .

[@timmommens901]

Amen

[@aissamafifi3268]

it was putin who pushed Ukraine and Georgia into wanting to join NATO inthe first place , especially since Ukraine after the fall of USSR was second only top Belarus in it's strong relation with Russia !! it was a golden opportunity for Russia that was squandered in 2004 Ukrainians wernen't complaing about Russia ( though Russia was alraedy involved ) they were complainig about corruption , unemployement and inffeciency of the ukrainian system (and not all this was corrected since then but there was a huge progress , espcially compared to Russia ) Russia should have ceased the opportunity it got to support the Ukrainian people to have no matter what a positive relation with Ukraine no matter the regime it has , I find that such policy is laways more fruitfull in long term , make ukrainians always welcome in Russia and keep good relation with Ukraine and then it'll be Ukrainians themsleves who will oppose joining NATO or if they do still join NATO , Russia would have had an ally inside NATO named Ukraine ,Yeltsin did a lot of blanders in both international and domestic affairs but putin was worse in a way , he half way westernized Russia and then procceeded to squandare it all , Russia for a time had an above 5% GDP growth ( mainly due to oil exports ) but it could have used that to push it's own evolution further especially if it ezstablished 0 problem with neighbours policy like Turkey tried for a time in the middle east before the arab spring , I'd imagine if they had russia's ressources instead British ,Germans , French and even spanish , dutch or italiens would have been N°1 or 2 in the world , the huge brain drain and demographic russia faces is not only due to loss of opportnities it's for the hostile envionnement Putin insist to keep ( maybe he wats to keep tradition !! ) that should have been resolved by now if Putin was smart enough ( he might have had to sacrifice his presidency postion with tsuch reforms , but then if he were the father of reforms in russia he'd probably be ruling from the shaddows anyway all meanwhile russia would have been stronger , maybe it's good for the west that russia has putin after all !! )

[@Conn30Mtenor]

Russia expects its neighbours to do as they are told; that is the "Sphere of Influence" model that has pretty much been discarded, even by the USA. Except by Putin, who is still butthurt by the end of the Soviet Union.

[@markoluodelahti2874]

@@Conn30Mtenor thats exactly why finnish want nato

[@normaaliihminen722]

When this occured? As far as i know It was Russian foreign minister that looks like mastiff. Who ”warned” us but he did not specifically said that fins can’t join.

[@karl1949]

Viva Finland! Remembering your brave brothers and sisters and all the fallen who helped win the Winter War of 1940. In solidarity!

[@finnicpatriot6399]

Why use viva? Why is the winter war relevant here? Why did you say 1940 instead of 39?

[@juho5282]

@@finnicpatriot6399 Lopeta nyt aikuinen mies. Jos joku toivoo hyvää suomalaisille, niin anna toivoa. Ei varmaan hyödytä ketään olla pikkumainen asiassa.

[@nami-3]

​@@finnicpatriot6399 Eikös toi patriot tarkoita sitä että tukee Venäjää?

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@juho5282 Jatkuva talvisota öyhötys pimittää Suomen pitkän ja kauniin historian, ja keskittää kaiken huomion 1900-lukuun. Melkein ykskään suomalainen tiedä Suomen historiasta muuta kuin talvi- ja jatkosodat.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@nami-3 ryssät ahjoon

[@BCSTS]

Well done ! An excellent informative interview with President Niinisto, What an intelligent, well spoken & candid man! All respect !

[@als4817]

Same thoughts, thanks for posting,, from Canada

[@lankari1]

This idiot president is preparing Finland to be the front line in fighting for US geo-politi'cal interests; a new proxy like Ukraine. Finland has NEVER had any issues with modern Russia; and this president never bothered to ask his PEOPLE if should join NATO or not. The country has been perfectly fine having relationship with Russia, and the west. Now this IDIOT is bowing to the US hegemony, and destroying the country. He is NOT representing his people nor the interests of the peaceful world.

[@als4817]

@@lankari1 I take it you are referring to the segment of Finns not in favour of NATO membership, as the not represented part? 20% should control the other 80? You may not be aware that the US is just 1 vote in NATO, and the vast majority are European ? NATO really doesn't need to protect the US, and Finland isn't high on the American agenda. You did not mention the extremely high rate of military service in Finland compared to any other country in the world. Why is that?

[@lankari1]

@@als4817 Where did you get the 20/80-ratio? Any links? Or was it just your imagination?

[@als4817]

@@lankari1 Months of Finnish polling from multiple sources, watched a solid rise, after the invasion, from 35ish to 80%. It hasn't changed since. Sweden has the same change in public opinion. The world has changed, there is no going back. Sorry.

[@Nemo59646]

Very impressed with the Finnish Presidents thoughtful answers and the interviewers questions.

[@NaggersandJoggers]

the interviewer also allows President to speak, and doesn't give weird roundabout questions like 'so your saying, ima lobster' woman/angry shrew punk

[@ManunKanava]

Yeah, our president is the best! Perkele

[@VicharB]

Very well spoken and open President with clear points and views; he knows what to say and how, and what to withhold from public discussion. Interesting interview.

[@himchannel3624]

He is a lawyer, ofcourse he can speak.

[@franklinclinton4539]

Truly sad that he has to step down in 2024. He enjoys almost universal support in Finland and is a once in a lifetime statesman.

[@Vanhapjuuma]

He is and has been a good president, and I think most of the Finns agree with that, but I wouldn't call him a once in a lifetime statesman. Many other, but obviously not all, of our politicians have the same political and rhetorical capabilities as well, so I'm not that worried about our future president either - whoever he/she will be. He has to (and naturally he will) step down after 2024, but that's just how democracies work.

[@creativeandaliveat65]

He is not the only capable, intelligent, honest person in Finland...😀 We are ok.

[@hjuikkll]

What he says, all of us think. He is a manifestation for the sentiment against Russian agression, which has been there for over 200 years.

[@erikvanderheeg5729]

Probably the greatest politician of Northern Europe, right now.

[@FACup-eu2dt]

What a sensible and trustworthy man. He seems very level-headed and honest. I'm not surprised in the slightest that he has risen to be the President of Finland.

[@robertfindley921]

I wish sensible and trustworthy men always rose to be President of the United States. Or women for that matter. We went from King of the Deplorables to Grandpa Santa Claus. God knows what's next, besides sheer chaos.

[@ymx7947]

@@robertfindley921 WW3 is next.

[@timmommens901]

True true

[@gyderian9435]

Sauli Niinistö is awesome, he was the first President in Finnish history to win Presidency on the 1st round of elections, and the first time an independent(not in a political party) won.

[@ERSCAUS]

Smart, intelligent, well spoken (even in English!). A leader indeed. Respect to Finland!

[@romeoramos6650]

Very very diplomatic, answers and attitude, well done.

[@Timonen76]

"Nothing good comes from the east, except the sun, and that too flees to the west." I heard that when I was a kid.

[@ilmari8209]

Retu

[@cliffordnyarko8164]

Damb

[@Inzpectre]

Why is that your profile pic... kinda cringe

[@ville9738]

@@Inzpectre it's the finnish airforce symbol (nothing to do with nazis)

[@csh5414]

@@Inzpectre Look at some Pictures of the Finnish air forces in WW2.. then you can cringe

[@pellman87]

This is man is an example to all world leaders.

[@MrSledge121]

A very intelligent and street wise man, making the correct decisions for his country.

[@pike9513]

He is lier!

[@ratflail215]

President actually doesn't have much power here. He's more of a pr person. Parliament has most of the power. President can only veto their decisions.

[@ilarious5729]

@@pike9513 care to explain? Your comment doesn't say much honestly

[@holymacarenafin2319]

@@pike9513 explain? Mistä vitusta opit tommoset keskustelu taidot.

[@Finsami71]

Agreed. Thanks from Finland sir.

[@primalamusica3]

Great respect for the President of Finland!

[@Maija788]

Huonoin presidentti ikinä.

[@jannevaatainen]

@@Maija788 Varsin hyviä presidenttejähän meillä on kaiken kaikkiaan ollut. Kekkosella nyt lähti vähän homma lapasesta, mut onneks se tajuttiin, ja lakeja muutettiin sen jälkeen.

[@goldbornmusic2025]

Dear President Mr Niinisto, Thank you for taking with Al Jazeera, and sharing you're very wise well informed information with us. Excellent honest interview well done .👍👍👍

[@heepox]

The first quote is incorrect: its not "Swedes we are no more, Russians we cannot become, therefore finns we must be" The CORRECT quote is: "We are no longer Swedes, we don't want to become Russians, so let's be Finns"

[@wga4139]

the only difference is in the russia part, the sweden and finland parts are essentially the same

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

@@wga4139 The russia part is the important one. Sweden and Finland are essentially the same. ;-)

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681 As much as I hate to say anything positive about Russia: Russia was largely founded by Finnic people and their population are largely Finnics who adopted Slavic language over the centuries. Meanwhile Swedes are Germanic and therefore completely unrelated to us Finns.

[@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681]

@@finnicpatriot6399 Well, a thousand years of breeding between the peoples of the Baltic Sea tend to change such things, especially around coast. For most finns, Germany or even Ireland has been closer by sea than Russia by land and Sweden has been just 24 hours of good winds away. Its nice to talk in theoreticals, but realities of life cant be ignored. It leaves very few "pure" people left. Fenno-Ugric languages are not same thing as finnic genes. Finns are mostly a people of western genes, while swedes are not really germanic, though their language is. The Rus, who founded the viking kingdoms in Russia, were pan-nordic and a lot further mix. Not just including famous danes like Harald Hardrada, who tried to rule England, but some were undoubtedly even turkish or greek and many intermarried with local people from the beginning. Of course its true that to travel the rivers of Russia, they had to travel through large finnic/estonian/karelian areas that reached easily as far as Moscow, and finnic peoples have at one time shared a border with ancestors of modern ukrainians. But the truth is MUCH more complicated that what you say.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@ribbitgoesthedoglastnamehe4681 1. Nope. Ireland is absurd. 2. Nobody was talking about "purity" 3. Language and genetics correlate 4. There's no such concept in genetics as "western genes." 5. Finns, like other Finno-Ugrians, have differing proportions of WHG, ANE and EEA 6. Finns and Estonians are genetically identical to bronze- and iron age Finnics who migrated to the Baltic. Only difference is that Finns have more EEA due to mixing with the Sámi. 7. Most uneducated clowns like you who try to distance Finnishness from Finno-Ugric attempt to dishonestly untie genetics from language, but are always incapable of defining what these Finno-Ugric genes we're supposedly missing even are.

[@Snowiestttv]

Finland gotta be the best country in the world, very smart and intelligent, makes all the right decisions mostly, no energy crisis, no military problem, no healthcare issues, strong economy, and citizens with common sense, what a sight, wish we had that in Denmark.

[@inotaarto8719]

Buddy, we envy your migration policy, grass isn't greener on the other side. Lets make both our countries better and learn from each others

[@buak]

I saw what you did there :D

[@formatique_arschloch]

​@@buak In your closed imagination.

[@mikaelnyberg3532]

Finland is not an enemy of anyone, we are a defensive nation with no aspiration to attack anyone.

[@mamelukki5164]

Eiko muka oo venäjän vihollinen?? Nyt on sulla kylää vähän väärisyny kuva suomi-venäjä suhteesta

[@sterilesteve5565]

What happened in the jatkosota? 😂

[@piirakkaliisa8340]

@@mamelukki5164 Kyllä Venäjä ihan ite hommaa itelleen epäsuotuisaa mainetta maailmalla ja ihan yksin siihen syyllinen, että NATO laajenee sen länsirajalle. Sääli, että Vladolf Putler on vallasa ja sääli, että rivivenäläinen on niin tyhmä/pelokas/molempia, että KGB jäärä saa harjoittaa kommareilta opittuja tapoja vielä vuonna 2022.. :D

[@buak]

@@sterilesteve5565 The state of mind of the nation was probably quite different 80 years ago.

[@finlandmapping]

@@buak and Europe

[@jeannettejordan7104]

This interview adds clarity to understanding Finland’s position vis a vie Russia and NATO. Interviewer did a good job.

[@virpikoivukoski-makela4936]

So did the president, one of the bests In the world🇫🇮

[@lankari1]

It gives clarity of HIS and his buddies' position; fed by the US and EU and NOTHING to do with the reality that Finns were never asked, and that Russia has NEVER threatened Finland in modern times in any single way, plus has no interest in doing so. (Except now, that Finland has sold its territory to the be the 1 001st US military outpost.)

[@lankari1]

@@kasperssononeandonly Surely you can link us the "aggressive statements" here, to prove that they exist? Where are they? Russia has not intruded in Finnish airspace nothing more than is perfectly normal in aviation all around the world: Show us the numbers that demonstrate that Russia has intruded more than any other military superpower occasionally enters its neighbours' airspace. Please! And WHAT KIND OF A HARM has any of those caused to Finland?

[@lankari1]

@@kasperssononeandonly Sooooo, I see we have now silently agreed to the fact, that Russia has NOT been a threat to Finland (before Finland started the babbling of joining NATO). I knew this before you did. 😉 Have you been worried also how Martians have constantly threatened Finland, and should Finland join NASA? What about the gingerbreadmen? Always aggressive, and stealing your sandals?

[@lankari1]

@@kasperssononeandonly So WHERE are the threats Russia made?

[@kievitz]

Sauli Niinistö is a good man and a great President, one of the best we've had over the years. As you can see, he is quite calm and well spoken, like most of us. You REALLY don't want to change that. We like our independence, neutrality and can be friends with anyone, depending on the circumstances. But if someone does not leave us be and threatens our existence and tries to extort us, heres to you, come fk around and find out. Eh, 700 years under the rule of Sweden? 1323 is the year the peace was established as Sweden annexed parts of Finland. In the year 1809 we became an autonomus area and later the grand dutchy of Finland, under Russian rule. In the year 1917 we declared independence. And we prefer it that way.

[@AnnatarLordOfGifts]

Ja 30 vuodes menetetää mamuille

[@hjuikkll]

@@AnnatarLordOfGifts Katsoppa, kuinka monta mamua eduskunnassa istuu ja kuinka moni maahanmuuttaja kiipeää sosioekonomisessa asteikossa korkeammalle, verrattuna Suomessa syntyneisiin. Tuo "mamuvastaisuus" on polittinen taktiikka oikealta. Syntipukki, joka nousee aina kriisien aikaan oikeistopopulististen puolueiden "valttikortiksi". Ilmiö ei ole tuttu pelkästään täältä pohjolasta.

[@timothycote236]

I have so much respect for President Niinsto for his insight to the issues. Great interview.

[@frankp6790]

I like this President, if more world leaders were like this man, we'd live in a different world definitely

[@timmommens901]

True true

[@Maija788]

I don’t like. I am from 🇫🇮

[@yanzaloon4246]

@@Maija788 Why?

[@IIHammerOfJusticeIII]

@@Maija788 no one asked you

[@user-ce6iy2nw5o]

He's not a leader.

[@eliasnjetski1146]

Niinistö* I'm living in Sweden and most of us almost all of us love Finland. Suomi on kaunis maa! 🇸🇪🤝🇫🇮

[@janesoole703]

In depth, balanced interview - much appreciated

[@saydee7878]

I find him to be a well spoken, calm man that only wants peace. I don't see him trying to show how obnoxious and pushy he can be. I do see that he is clearly able to make the best decisions for Finland however it rolls out. I see him as reasonable. It's a nice change...

[@jameswyre6480]

I have enormous respect and liking for the hardy Finns. Any historian has to be impressed. The move towards a republic to become what they are today is impressive. Finns, Poles, and Ukrainians aspire and achieve far more than the stalinist/tsarist horror of Russia always becomes. They know what the bear really is and should be supported to the hilt by the actual republics. I even support intervention by the US fully.

[@duhni4551]

You keep selling us the weapons and we do what we have been doing thousands of years, which is to keep Russia at their side of the border.

[@Jz9222]

Russia has always been the one and only threat to Finland and it never seems to change. When I was in the army (scout/sniper) all the enemy vehicles we studied were Russian vehicles. We have always been prepared for Russian invasion during these decades, so that the threshold to attack us would be as high as possible. Si vis pacem, para bellum.

[@bonez9160]

Niinisto As a Swede, i love you! 👍❤

[@ronnyrudeboy7461]

As a Finn I love Pippi Lång strump och Ronja Röver dotter. Slava democracy.

[@jouninurmi7648]

i sure dont have to be embarrassed about our President Sauli Niinisto and how he is leading Country of Finland, born and lived 31 years in Finland now 31 years in USA. only thing i would be missing would be my children and my great American friends, im planning to move back to Finland With my girlfriend, whu is third generation Finn. highest living standard in the World Happiest and safest Country in the World 5 years in the row and lot more. politics as a free Country should have, do i need to say anything more! Finnish and USA citizen.

[@normaaliihminen722]

Welcome to Finland! I must say that USA also needs to be strong for sake of every western country. We might have differences in few areas but overall USA needs to be competent. 🇫🇮🤝🏻🇺🇸 which means improving the education system first and foremost and then worry about other issues. Education is the key for stronger economic development. USA has vast pool of untapped cash.

[@jdu2613]

Very good and level-headed interview. Thank you

[@CU65LATER]

We have the best possible president there is for decades. Thank you .

[@samhartford8677]

Yeps, as a presumed member of the (beef-eating) wokery even I voted for him. Why? Because he was the best for Finland in this situation. Otherwise I would have voted for the gay Green candidate. Would not have worked with Putin. Some may call it Finlandization, but I call it realism. The 1300km border is not going to go away. That's the realism. We are not powerful enough to wish that away.

[@alexdieudonne1924]

Great to have some intellectual debate. Well done . Al Jazerra.

[@marcuslanciai5352]

His assessment is as close as it can get. He is correctly carrying out his political role. Considers the will and well being of his nation. In that sense Putin is completely off track.

[@md.kamrulhasan8456]

Great president and Finland is lucky to get him❤️

[@u.h.h4915]

🤩💙💫💛🙏🏻🌟✨👍🏻

[@WilliamPriceKing]

In poker terms, one who puts it “all in” could possibly end up being quite dangerous. This should not be taken lightly.

[@StromyYTA]

He was always very dangerous. The only thing that has changed is that he dropped his mask.

[@bdub1934]

all in on a bluff

[@vanessali1365]

We all know he's dangerous as much as what he would do when he realizes that he has lost all and no more chips to play...

[@homayuns2165]

Putin is going to lose slowly but surly. These things take time and pressure.

[@jeckjeck3119]

When wannabe Hitler like Putin doesn't leave you much choice, this is the result.

[@henryfrost8542]

Finland lost land in the winter war, Russia never returned their land back. How can you trust a country like that? Finland is a peaceful country...

[@WinglessRain]

They were allied with Hitler, and refused to stand down. They're not peaceful, and only became such after the red army stomped them flat, and they were forced to sign binding agreements to remain neutral for the rest of time.

[@ville9738]

it's considered a win because the assault was bigger than the allies in d-day and they had much more in mind than a small part of land

[@arikotiranta2689]

Yes its no easy trust Russia.

[@kenkitimbo762]

But Finland was part of Russia until the revolution, same story with Ukraine after the Maidan then DPR & LPR

[@jukkalahtinen3509]

@@kenkitimbo762 Finland was part of Sweden for several hundred years. In the 1808-1809 war against Russia, Sweden lost and lost Finland to Russia. Finland was therefore a part of Russia for a little over a hundred years and became independent in 1917.

[@babayaga5708]

Finland's Horror experience from the No.1 Invaders of the world never fades. For Sure the same feeling for Ukraine and Georgia

[@associationar-terre5473]

The number one invader in the world is the USA, look at history.

[@NaggersandJoggers]

if Finland was not prepared, it might have been them in stead of Ukraine first

[@finnicpatriot6399]

Experience? You mean 1200 years of experiences?

[@babayaga5708]

@@finnicpatriot6399 doesn't matter if is 1200years or 1billion years. It still remains.

[@shaunhall6834]

If we could have more leaders like this the world would be a better place.

[@joerogain5025]

Dear Mr. Vlad Putins : Tank you for being the singles best Arms and Weapons supplier to Ukraine as well as being the single best RECRUITER for NATO/OTAN membership with once neutral Sweden and Finland signing up and soon joining NATO. Hopefully Ukraine will follow suit and join NATO. Again tanks a million cause we couldn't have done all this without you. Sincerely yours, The FREE and Independent and Sovereign People of Ukraine. SLAVA UKRAINE!

[@schnecke9850]

Genau du miese Kreatur Putin!!!

[@jiivee63]

Slava Ukraini, it is...

[@hjuikkll]

Finland's Nato membership: ✅

[@tipsforthecitizens7218]

Al Jazeera hits right away with a Russian information war term "neutral". Finland has never been neutral towards Russia or east, Finland is part of west, part of Europe, part of EU and has euro. Finland has western values, and Santa Claus. So please stop spreading information war terms like "neutral" related to Finland. You support Russia's goals if you do that. 90% of Finns have relatives fought against Russia, so stick your neutral to your...

[@you6382tube]

Niinisto is quite an intelligent, articulate, and straight-talking president. He's clear, direct and honest. He reflects on history to understand the current situation. And, unlike Putin - has a stable and solid foundation of loyalty, trust and open communication between his government and the people. The Finns respect him.

[@beerman204]

sadly, much of the world currently seems to want despots and dictators....

[@suutari13]

he is a traitor that changed his mind when told so by his overlords.

[@lankari1]

He is selling his country's independence in front of the US hegemony. NOTHING to be respected in that!

[@KrisH-px2jk]

I don't respect this guy at all. And I'm a Finn. He's an idiot. He's not honest, I've seen him lie, totally lost all respect for him then. He's just a political opportunist, he likes playing the role of great statesman

[@jmm6917]

@@suutari13 Who?

[@BlueHooloovoo]

Why can't we get leaders like this in North America?

[@luuxii]

Because your political system is more than awful by design

[@rajamju]

You do, you just have to vote for them - not the selfish ones. I also think that you political system could be a bit refreshed.

[@hjuikkll]

@@luuxii And as early as 1920's your government started to sell out regulation and well-fare of its people, in the interest of economic growth. Politics became a lobbyist playing field.

[@vittuix7662]

If we had a King This is Him. Democracy yields the best of us!

[@sdfswords]

The Russians would be insane to invade Finland or Sweden, these are super well-trained, high tech forces that would crush the Ruskies toe to toe. All of my relatives in Scandinavia are expert hunters, army reservists and know how to handle hardship in the woods. It would be a turkey shoot!

[@Fydron]

Not only the training but Finland is basically a fortress to conquer we have thousands of lakes and swamps with thick forests on top of those swamps forests filled with impassable amount of loose rock and bedrock. Considering Russians can't even conquer flat plains like Ukraine has i really doubt they would have any success at all diving into a swamp forest lands like Finland and Sweden.

[@sdfswords]

@@Fydron Totally agree, I've hunted with my cousins in Finland, they're all competent marksmen in the forest and completely at home in harsh conditions. My mother's family are Swedish Finns, who still have a 1000 hectare estate outside of Helsinki, really nice people. A Russian invasion would be cut to bits in about a week!

[@Silveirias]

@@sdfswords If your relatives are Finnish, they are not Scandinavian. Then again, if you mean that they are Swedish speaking Finns, there is a possibility that they are ethnically Scandinavian and that their ancestors were Swedish colonisers.

[@sdfswords]

@@Silveirias Yes, they were largely Swedish landholders who, of course, mixed with the locals. The five founding families of Finland's national identity in the 1600's were actually of Swedish derivation. The Swedes and Finns get along splendidly, though have obviously different ethno-linguistic backgrounds. My mother speaks both languages, plus English and German, as is common in Europe. Ask a Finn if he is Scandinavian, he'll say yes.

[@Silveirias]

@@sdfswords You are asking a Finn and I'm telling you we're not Scandinavian. Scandinavia, geographically, has two countries: Norway and Sweden. These are the only two countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Denmark is included in Scandinavia due to close historical and linguistic ties. All three Scandinavian countries are kingdoms. There are only three Scandinavian countries. If you want to include Finland and Iceland (and Greenland and the Faroe Islands), the correct term is Nordic (meaning "northern", not "Norse"). Before the last world war, Finland would have been called Baltic. Finnish is not a Scandinavian language i.e. North Germanic, part of the Indo-European language family. Finnish is from the Uralic language family. Icelandic is also a Scandinavian language, but Iceland is not a Scandinavian country. Finnish is culturally not Scandinavian (Finnish mythology is not the same as Scandinavian). Finland has of course been influenced by Scandinavia a lot due to Swedish influence, but it has also been influenced by Russia. A significant portion of Finland was part of Russia for a lot longer than since Sweden lost all of Finland to Russia. Yes, the Swedish-speaking Finns were in a key role in building the independent Finland and the Finnish national identity during the Russification periods especially. They were in that position because colonialism had ensured the ruling class was Swedish or at least spoke Swedish. It wasn't them alone, though, because the Finnish language was getting more foothold in society at the time. They also realised pretty early on that they had to get the Finnish-speaking population onboard. Your average Finnish peasant did not relate to the Swedish-speaking upper class and their identity. The Finns and Swedes get along well now, but they did not historically "get along splendidly" unless your idea of getting along splendidly is that one side has all the power and the other has none. The Swedes considered Finland a conquered land that was a convenient buffer zone against Russia and its people were a convenient source of taxes to the mainland and useful as soldiers. The Finnish people were not seen as equal to the Swedes, and the Swedes still considered us a lower race as late as the 50s. The Finnish language had no position in Finland until Sweden lost the last parts of Finland it held to Russia.

[@Ali-Venus]

Sauli is the best President, what we can have. Hyvä Sauli! 🇫🇮

[@juhamikkonen]

After the war Soviet Union forced Finland to Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948. We knew that it was not a friendly agreement. But as a lesser nation Finlandization was a way to survive. In some ways we got economical benefits from the Soviet Union for decades though. When the Soviet Union collapsed on December 1991, we resigned the Treaty on January 1992. After we joined the European Union on December 1995, we have not been neutral. We are looking for a full Nato membership with Sweden. We believe that this makes the Baltic Region and Scandinavia more secure. I hope that in the future after the Russia has lost the war in Ukraine, there would be a true Wind of Change for the new Russia where human life matters and there is justice and peace instead of oppression, hatred, bitterness and victim mentality. But this is a direction that only Russians themselves may take.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

I would agree except that to be a functional member of the international community Russia wouls have to grow up and the Russian people would have to stop being sheep.

[@user-rj7sg2bz3j]

kiitos viisaista sanoista. Olen venäläinen ja todella toivon että tulevaisuudessa olemme hyvät ystävät. Sota ei ole lopaaton

[@finnicpatriot6399]

@@user-rj7sg2bz3j Sota ei ole loputon, eikä ole Venäjän federaatiokaan. Se on luonnoton kansojen vankila, pakolla kasaan puristettu imperiumi joka ei pysy kasassa ilman uskomattoman paranoidia ja jatkuvaa sortoa.

[@lennieunderscoreboy]

Kind of clear that turkey and hungry don't belong in nato, why the delay in ratification

[@swan2736]

Excellent interview, thank you very much. A very clear and direct Prime Minister, l truly understand why the Finnish wish to join NATO... About 1,300 kms border with Russia! Hope you can join NATO sooner than later!

[@marika8363]

Thx only Hungary and Turkey left on our path to NATO with Sweden. Glory to Ukraini! ❤️🇺🇦

[@ilarious5729]

He's the president, our prime minister is Sanna Marin, one of the world youngest prime ministers as well as female, if that somehow matters but in today's political climate it for some reason seems to

[@ankkaah1809]

Sale on kyllä äijä johka voi suomalaisena luottaa

[@jrpm1964]

Loaded questions by the reporter... but solid decent responses from The President....

[@looper3117]

Excellent interview. Al Jazeera has been very impressive in the objectivity of its Ukraine coverage to date 👍

[@philipgrabarski3775]

What a great leader finland has in this man . Much respect to you sir from the 🇬🇧

[@samlunter5126]

❤🇫🇮

[@Lawh]

Sometimes, once in a millenium, a guy comes by that makes you feel like he should rule the entire country for a thousand years. A legend like Gilgamesh.

[@Thezftw]

Sure but since power tends to corrupt those in power I'd say it's better if no leader stays in power longer than half a generation.

[@Lawh]

@@Thezftw It is definitely better this way. Once in a millenium is not enough to counter act all the rest of the fools.

[@NaggersandJoggers]

how about Sukadong?

[@akoskovacs1337]

A sober voice (as always)

[@timkahn2813]

finland can defend itself and would defeat russia in a fight.

[@thomasreagan7465]

😂 Hahahahaha

[@SpecialMuppetOperation]

Russia is a washed-up has been. Run into the ground by kleptocratic morons.

[@mikitz]

Frankly, right now, anyone can defeat Russia. Even Russia.

[@angulaaagula5926]

China and Taiwan Taiwan is small town is supposed not even to be a country small county China is many nations China is subcontinents.

[@angulaaagula5926]

Be honest please Like Al Jazeera

[@samluca1244]

Pres. Niinisto has a keen insights and sharp grasp of the situation his country has been facing in relation to Ruzzia's possible aggression!

[@mkangas2264]

BS, I thought he was a sharp guy still 5 years ago and was heading towards global recognition - but not any more! He has lost it all!

[@lankari1]

As there is an equally possible aggression from Martians, right? They too have "threatened" Finland oh soooo much... Let Finland join NASA too! It is essential because of the "threat"!

[@CorporalCookie]

@@lankari1 .... That was one of the dumbest things I've read in a while, in an attempt to make an arguement.

[@lankari1]

@@CorporalCookie So surely you, in your wisdom, can pinpoint us HOW has Russia threatened Finland? Or HOW did Finnish people democrically decided to join NATO? Please! Show is yours!

[@CorporalCookie]

@@lankari1 The threat came when Russia said that Finland wasnt allowed to join Nato. That is not up to them, Finland is a sovereign country, its up to Finland to decide, which was Russias stance before, but that changed. And Finland chose via elections. You do realize how a parlimentary system works? And polling showed a clear majority in support and the citizen proposals calling for discussion for joining Nato in the parliament gathered the needed signatures and more very quickly. The opposing proposal against joining Nato managed to gather only around half of the needed votes to be brought up for discussion, and that was after the proposal had been up for two months at that point. So if you do not know how things work in Finland, dont pretend and try to bullshit your way around.

[@Bob-nd2mr]

Весь МИР сейчас раскололся на ДЕМОКРАТИИ и тех, кто выступает против ДЕМОКРАТИИ. Без сомнения, на чьей стороне Финляндия..... Режим Путина, Коммунистическая партия Китая, исламский режим Ирана, диктатура Северной Кореи, генералы Мьянмы, режим Мадуро в Венесуэле и т. д. и т. д. … находятся на противоположной стороне от Финляндии. Выбирай или будь избранным.

[@nikiindzhiev5369]

Who would want to be part of that sad bunch

[@avlasting3507]

Well done. Thanks.

[@__logan__duvalier__]

A great leader !

[@greyjay9202]

I doubt very much if Russia would attack Finland. It did so in the early days of WW2, and although Russia eventually prevailed, their army got badly mauled by elite Finnish winter warfare troops. Given Russia's current situation vis a vis Ukraine, it would be madness to attack Finland. First, because the Finns are stubborn and determined, and will fight back, and second, because NATO or not, Finland has many bilateral agreements with powerful allies.

[@angulaaagula5926]

We don't know they are neighborhood issues please Offcourse nobody loves the war!! Go check Finland and Russian embassies Be surprised These nations are in serious arguments Why blocked the boarder's?? Why stop his gas energy?? We don't know so much about their issues but it's seems to have issues

[@angulaaagula5926]

Are you in America where are you dear?? This two neighborhood and you probably don't know listen the video again please??

[@m1k1a1]

You are right. In the short term. But Russia has shown they are willing to re-arm and continue aggression. We see it in Ukraine now. Unable to grab more land, Russia manages to cause maximum suffering to Ukrainian civilians using ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. For Finland it does not make sense to delay decisions that are unavoidable in future. Every living Finn was raised by their parents or grandparents saying to never relax with Russia. Never think Russia cannot be a threat.

[@el060248]

Of course Russia wouldn't or couldn't attack now or anywhere in the near future. The border hasn't been as quiet in decades. They're all being slaughtered in Ukraine. The decision to join NATO is for the future. Is Russia capable and possibly willing to threaten our sovereignty in the next 30 years? If yes, then we should join. And thus we did. Besides, it's a deterrent. We are experts at that. Invading Finland would be very, very costly even as it is. What's changed is that Russia seems to be capable of even more dumb and unwise decision making than previously imagined. So a stronger deterrent is required for the future.

[@finnicpatriot6399]

It has done so at least twice every century for the last 1000 years.

[@leerbechmorten]

Lovely and honest interview

[@ManunKanava]

Sauli kyl vetää! Tulee niin hyvää puhetta!

[@Intruder74]

Imagine coming to international video speaking Finnish... Way to prove our "good" education.

[@abc_0_10_11]

Sauli edustaa Suomea hyvin. Rationaalista puhetta, rauhallinen ja vastaa suoraan kysymyksiin.

[@CountSadistOIII]

Im proud Finn, and im very proud of our great president Niinistö,

[@Jack-ul8nn]

Good interview Tom

[@skogstjuven2098]

Finlands sak är vår = Finland's cause is ours. Gud Bevara Finland ! Gud Bevara Svierge ! Gud Bevara Kung Gustav 16 ! kaksi eri verta sama sydän.

[@duriandurian4674]

Excellent interview questions and useful insights and perspectives leading to Finland's bid for Nato membership and assessing Putin outside in by his Excellency, the President of Finland, Mr Niinisto. I've come to admire him for being calm and collected in the face of challenges. Another great President!

[@janhanchenmichelsen2627]

Niinisto is a leader that makes me proud to be a neighbour of Finland. Quiet sisu.

[@beautifullwomen2292]

I am somalifinish 🇸🇴🇫🇮 i can say we have good president and smart proud to live finland and we Hope war dont start lets be peace sorry my english is not that good 😅🤣

[@thesilkpainter]

Somali-Finish? Wow! What an interesting combination!😍❤️

[@beautifullwomen2292]

@@thesilkpainter what do you mean? 😐I dont undrestand english very good and yes i am from somalia 🇸🇴 but i live many years finland🇫🇮 i have finish citizen and finish passport

[@emiiliaolausson5559]

​@@thesilkpainter it is like saying someone is Afro-american. Nothing weird about it. There are many Finnish citizens who originally came from Somalia or some other place, or their parents or ancestors came and they still preserve and value that part of their heritage.

[@SK-ov5nd]

@@thesilkpainter and you are ?

[@georgeodhiambo598]

@@SK-ov5nd Finnish-Somali I guess. Finnish DNA, Somali citizen and living in Mogadishu.

[@teemumetsola7566]

more accurate translation of finnish motto would be: "we are not swedes, we will not become russians, so let us be finns" -Ruotsalaisia emme ole, venäläisiä meistä ei tule, olkaamme siis suomalaisia :)

[@dodojesus4529]

Google translate gives the wrong translation it seems

[@electronicfarts5105]

Please tell the interviewer to unbutton his suit jacket when sitting.

[@chrisbreezy-ryanbarbosa4320]

Man, from Finland I can really see the value of having two leaders instead of one. They both have strengths and different roles.

[@debbiemetke5938]

How my country (the U.S.) got a President Trump when Finland has this fine man, well, I'm shaking my head.

[@joerogain5025]

An appeaser is someone who feeds 🐊🐊🐊crocodiles 🐊🐊🐊 hoping to be the last to be eaten." Winston Churchill

[@chrisbremner8992]

keep repeating

[@asone9797]

The problem is knowing what the crocodile looks like. You may all be beating the dog whilst the real crocodile feasts

[@thesilkpainter]

@@asone9797 🙄there are more than one crocodile around. Doesn't mean we shouldn't get rid of this one. Except for saving that distinguished part of the species called human trash.

[@linmonash1244]

He's saying; We know precisely who our neighbour is. We've known for years - centuries in fact. He's a great big Bully Boy. This is not the first time he's shouted these sorts of threats over the fence. "You can't be friends with THOSE Boys! If you play with them I won't be your friend any more! I'll be your ENEMY!" Normally he'd simply be expelled from the schoolyard. The problem with this bully boy however is that he's got a suicide vest strapped to his chest and a finger on the nuclear trigger and he's got earplugs in. Currently he's got those closest to him convinced that what he's wearing is a bullet-proof vest. At some point they're going to see it for what it really is. Hopefully in time to restrain him before he takes them all out with him.

[@Level92Magikarp]

You read the play very well, I can hear you point of view.

[@obeneamukucharles7547]

He did what? He went all in! 😊😊😂

[@charlesndegwa9810]

Cheers Mr president you are so composed

[@judithbradford9130]

Apparently the Russian regime has Balkans Syndrome: the affliction of insisting your "REAL" borders, power, and influence ought to be whatever those were at the very apex of your nation's historical strength and size. In December he tried to re-create the USSR by fiat, and the world rolled our eyes and shuddered because here we go again... another country imagining itself "oppressed" by its own collapse, and determined to make the world give it back its previous status.

[@SetoKaiba951]

Everyone just says how amazing sauli is and it is true he is amazing man and president

[@phil20_20]

I think Putin may have seen it as his last chance to gain more territory from his neighbors, so to him, it was either go now, or lose it.

[@jokuvaan5175]

Yea. He can't see his fream of reviving USSR if he dies before even trying

[@billdell3051]

Why can't we just have peace Its going to happen No other option. Look around the planet and see what good war has done.

[@anti-bullingjames]

Unfortunately, NATO countries don't have care about

[@drmodestoesq]

War defeated the Imperial Japanese.

[@jouninurmi7648]

in Finland there is common saying ruski is always ruski even if you fry him in the butter! thats how i remember, never trust russians. my dad and uncles experienced that in Winterwar 1939 - 1940 and in World War 2, that mainly includes russian soldiers known their brutality and horrible War Crimes. Finnish American dual citizen 31 years in Finland 31 years in USA.

[@jordis9446]

That's how Finland fought against the Ukrainians in the winter war.. In the follow-up war, they fought against the "Russians"..

[@jouninurmi7648]

@@jordis9446 Ukraine was part of soviet union and they attacked Finland with russians! now they are in same situation where Finland was 1939 - 1940 we only had 3.7 million people on that time and not much help from the other Countries, except Sweden and Norway!

[@browngreen933]

"When [Putin] attacked Ukraine it became very clear." Yep, same thing for me. Previously I was OK with Putin, now I hate his guts.

[@virel206]

Good Sir .... I want the way you talk .... it is not irritating to the minds .....

[@joerogain5025]

"Those who supported, appeased or ignored Vladimir Putin, must be shamed for creating a monster." Garry Kasparov/Former World Chess Champion/Prominent Russian Dissident and Opponent of Vladimir Putin

[@matasha8038]

Agreed. The monster was always lurking within, however. IMHO the covid 19 epidemic brought him nearer the prospect of his own mortality and accentuated, accelerated and propelled his monstrous ambitions.

[@jeckjeck3119]

@@matasha8038 He should have been put down years ago.

[@coriolan1963]

@@matasha8038 agreed. Putin was a KGB agent in Eastern Germany and the KBG was founded by Lenin. So Bolshevism is still there.

[@wickstorm_records]

Lol. Poor little Putler.

[@timslomkl]

Hopes your refering to west and America

[@oldskoolsubaru7777]

Good to see a fellow Kiwi involved in real journalism.

[@EchoBravo370]

I thought he was Aussie until I heard him say 'bit'.

[@hjuikkll]

"Real" pfffffffffft

[@raimobrunning3657]

Sauli Niinistö is a trustworthy person and Finland is the most advanced nation on earth 🇫🇮✊🇺🇦

[@moonknight2245]

Sweden n Finland wasn't neutral. They are with west but have a understand with Russia

[@duhni4551]

We don't have that understanding anymore.

[@lankari1]

@@duhni4551 ...because it is not in the US's interests, and Finland needs to bow THAT direction. Because USA - and its lapdog EU - say Finland to do so! And there is NOTHING the interest of small Finland's people weigh in that! Finland is best served as the US's... sorry; I meant "NATO's" frontline in creating a military encircle, that has "not moved one inch east from the unified Germany"; as we remember the old Bush administration, with Hans Dietrich Genscher promised to Gorbatschov... Has it? ;-) (This promise is equally water-proof as is USA's "noooo, we will not bring nukes to Finland.... we promise that...." 😅 😂 🤣

[@duhni4551]

@@lankari1 Nope, you are wrong yet again. It is because Russia invaded another European country in the heart of Europe and changed our geolpolitics completely, on top of the threats Russia keeps making. It is simple: enemy of my enemy is my friend sort of thing, just like when we had help from Germany to save our independence and sovereignty. Even though we allow nukes in our soil everyone still needs our permission to bring them. So comprade, no rubles for you this time either.

[@lankari1]

@@duhni4551 Russia invaded a country because an action is followed by a reaction: EXCACTLY like USA invaded Cuba in 1961. (USA has also invaded tens of other countries, and posted 1 000 military bases around the world, but "that's different".)😆 😅 😂 🤣 Is Finnish president that DUMB, that he does not see WHY Russia invaded Ukraine? And he is pushing his country in that SAME trap?!?! A DUMB leader!

[@duhni4551]

@@lankari1 Russia invaded Ukraine because Putin wants to bring back 1917 borders, this was written in the letter Putin sent to the world. So it was because of imperialism. Another reason would be that Russia doesn't allow its neighbors to be sovereign nations. USA is not the issue in this one, so why bring it up? Also Russia has nuclear bomber bases in Venezuela, USA has not invaded them, and this is present day situation. So as usual, you don't know what you are talking about. You keep thinking that, but reality is, it is you who don't know anything about anything regarding the topic.

[@peagames2002]

After the disaster Halonen set up, Sauli Niinistö is breath of fresh air for Finland.

[@himchannel3624]

Sadly the red machine halonen destroyed for years to come.

[@maghambor]

Sweden and Finland is the perfect marriage. You get the stubborn Finnish culture joined with the perceived open culture of Sweden (which is really just as determined as Finland, but they tend to not want to show it). It's two peoples that complement each other in a significant way. With a joint NATO membership, the Finnish-Swedish militaries would be able to coordinate a severe threat to Russia if it ever considered expanding into the Baltic states or Scandinavia. Just imagine the brutal air and sea power they can project, along with the ground forces. Russia is getting boxed in by the Nordic countries in NATO, as the Norwegians and Danish will probably be part of the same strategic planning. NATO will command and coordinate all the Nordic countries in one unified command, by the looks of it. This is significant. Do I dare to hope for a parallel Nordic political union also? Maybe let Estonia join? Just maybe.

[@freezedeve3119]

does Sweden have enough armies to defend even their own land?

[@el060248]

@@freezedeve3119 Ground? Not really, but with Finland and Sweden in NATO Russkies wouldn't even reach the shore. They'd be in the bottom of the Baltic sea.

[@yagi3925]

Niinistö, not "Niinisto". It makes quite a difference: diacritical signs are there for a reason.

[@Ollebengtsson92]

all love from sweden!

[@dominark2730]

Sauli rly is one of the greatest presidents we have ever had, and we had great ones in the history of Finland, long live calm Sauli😶😇

[@Linn630]

God president Niinisto,🇫🇮🤝🇸🇪🇪🇺

[@marika8363]

The best President ever! Slava Ukraini, love from Finland. ❤🇺🇦🇺🇦 Pls donate to Ukraina.

[@pablosadelmundo]

As long as there are totalitarian dictatorships (China, Russia, Muslim governments, etc.), humanity still has a lot to endure...

[@jlee8181]

🤣🤣🤣 . UarseA is dictating to whole of western Europe. So who is the totalitarian regimes?

[@sjelucten7150]

Watch Clare Daly on what she said in MEP.

[@mikejohn2999]

Democracies have attacked more countries than dictators go do your research and shut up

[@shalahuddinumar3386]

And which Muslim country is that? Indonesia,Malaysia,Pakistan, Uzbek, and Turkey, there are a lot Muslim countries that have a democratic government voted by their citizens, do you even know what is a totalitarian dictatorship?

[@kumarj4693]

ROFLMAO!! You talk as if England and in some shape and form, Australia and Canada, are not controlled by the Royal family. Similarly, you seem to think America is not a police state that has invaded sovereign nations across the globe post WW2, for the sake of natural resources and continues to do so to this day, while NATO and UN put no sanctions on them. Same can be said of France and Britain.