Understanding the war in Ukraine (3) - Europe

STG Director Prof Alexander Stubb sheds light on the war in Ukraine in a series of four video lectures.
Each lecture focuses on a different angle regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
After a general introduction in the first lecture, and a second video on Finland, this third one focuses on Europe. Up next: the world.
More on eui.eu/stg
This episode was recorded on 24 March 2022.
#Ukraine #Ukrainewar #Russia #Europe #EU

[@mikedrop4421]

Imagine being this good at speaking about and explaining a subject on camera in a non-native tongue. He impresses me every time I catch him being interviewed. Once I stumbled across this series I put all the episodes into a playlist and I'm working my way through the entire lot of them.

[@annarasmus8737]

We're highly educated (education being free for all) and many finns speak at least two, if not three, languages. Nothing special for most europeans. 🇫🇮 Finnishmama

[@kyyyni]

To be fair, most Finns still wouldn't come even close to this level of conciseness speaking in English, even when talking about an area of their expertise.

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

The contrast between what is said about Mr. Stubb in media discussions and his actual presentation is so huge that I only can laugh at it. What I hear here is calm, well-reflected chain of thoughts going from observations to logical suggestions for action. If you disagree, at least you have something clear and concrete to disagree with and you do not have to resort to strawmen or ad hominem or whatever methods our journalists are so fond of. Of course, some still do.

[@mathish1477]

Why did they in Finland have a problem with him? When I was in Helsinki, art school, I don't think they liked him much.

[@simoncolombo6640]

Yep. Imagine that someone like Mika Aaltola, an academic that has never stepped outside his ivory tower is apparently third in the opinion polls. It's ridiculous. People are such fools.

[@margusgrenzmann3977]

@@mathish1477 He is from a fiscally conservative party and drove a very harsh cuts on education, healthcare and culture while in goverment. Quite predictable perhaps but quite many promises were broken by the goverment while he was there.

[@margusgrenzmann3977]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJilkGWIgat4gM0 this is ofcourse quite heavily edited for the sake of comedy (there should be subtitles) but this does show what people felt he was about.

[@stenergut9661]

reagan/thatcher neoliberal.

[@dickybyrd6865]

I would like to hear hear Alexander Stubbs take on the present day Hungarian position in NATO and Europe.

[@Lutku]

Gotta say tho, Stubb was not really liked when he was Prime Minister of Finland.

[@niilaheikki]

@@Lutku but then, who was?

[@jesseaffiliate6328]

@@Lutku because 80% of our people are leftist, pro-welfare state people. Even our only anti-immigration party bases on social democracy in terms of economic and social issues. Our only "right" wing party has 38 MPs and only few (3-5) of them are against light socialistic model of wel***** bs state. Also; stubb was "dangerous nato hawk" (just common sense pro NATO) as russian propaganda tells and even our news medias have Been using same propaganda slurs. PS; puna means red in terms of political spectrum, these redfaction69 putinists or other commies are very loud but a tiny part of our citizens... They even founded a party called power belongs to kreml.

[@jansix4287]

@@Lutku Whenever German politicians receive applause from abroad, we think to ourselves, little do they know how stupid they truly are. 🤷 Here your former Prime Minister speaks analytical to the point and in perfect English. Be proud of him for once! 🇫🇮

[@sergeyd.yarmish2392]

He’s very biased

[@annarasmus8737]

Stand united! Tack Alexander! 🙏🇫🇮

[@fredrikh9299]

Crystal clear.

[@emom358]

Fascinating. I really enjoy the way he breaks everything down. Please continue with these talks.

[@Myohomoto]

So enjoy his videos!!! Wow! Incredible! He's a great lecturer! As a politician I saw him quite differently! He's very concise and eloquently spoken.

[@aachoocrony5754]

So you swallow what he's saying? Hahaha that was funny. We're talking about war. He's on the fringe of Europe next to Russia. Hmmm...how complicated is it? The war will cost much more than petrol prices, inflation, and immigration crisis. Europe itself is caught in between-its the new 'Poland'.

[@tantiauern7951]

😮ñ

[@randyrobey5643]

These are very interesting talks. They are thoughtful, insightful and educational. The speaker has a first-rate mind. He also has the ethos required to give credibility to his assertions. I just have to remember to take off my headphones before the music starts.

[@timothybrady2749]

A really outstanding analysis of events and exceptionally clear presentation. Thank you for posting your video. I am looking forward to your next presentation.

[@sergeyd.yarmish2392]

But very one sided

[@gabrielc.2177]

@@sergeyd.yarmish2392 But there's no obligation at all for someone to be 100% impartial...

[@sergeyd.yarmish2392]

@@gabrielc.2177 of course not, unless you pretend otherwise

[@ronaldkessel2776]

Excellent! Thanks so much! Fabulous clarity.

[@TheMax0005]

I subscribed to your channel! Your way of breaking every topics so clear and intellectual with a very relaxing tone of voice, I can easily listen to this all day. Keep up the good work Alexander! Hi from Canada.

[@ingridsammagard2284]

The information in all your videos about EU, Russia, Putin, the West, post cold war, NATO, Finland, Sweden, economi, Ukraini war etc makes it all understandable! Thank you ❤

[@ellidavids2384]

This whole series is great, Mr. Stubb is a fantastic speaker, great content and delivery

[@sergeyd.yarmish2392]

It’s very sad that such talented man is so corrupt

[@aachoocrony5754]

Really? How so?

[@aachoocrony5754]

This series isn't aging well.

[@ellidavids2384]

@@aachoocrony5754 Why not?

[@aachoocrony5754]

@@ellidavids2384 A number of reasons. He's also backtracking on his already nebulous, general, and in turn misleading declarations. You know, common bs rhetoric. 12 episodes! Ahaha-typical. I skimmed through it at 2x the speed. At least he says that globalism has ended-at least that. Liberalism is good for some and terrible for others. Funny how he 'describes' that. The most obvious lie is that Russia will be totally isolated. The most insulting is how he labels Putin as an aspiring tyrant in the manner of Stalin. He's a parrot for the neoliberals who want the status quo. Funny how he backstabs America-the major neoliberal component. What does he expect for Europe let alone Finland? (He doesn't give a sh1t for Finland, whether it gets pulverized within 5 minutes). As for Europe, he must be in denial...no Russia? No America? Kekeke

[@casperfransz4926]

Thank you. These lectures provide much clarity and vision on the chaotic situation today. Hope there will be more!

[@patrickglass9323]

So important - most insightful. A wonderfully clear conclusion to your three talks. Everyone should watch them. And reflect and learn. Professor Alexander Stubb : Thank you so much.

[@Barnettdan99]

Thank you again!

[@greeneyeswideopen774]

Yea please extend this series. We are thirsty for real information and a deeper understanding of our current world.

[@sokolmihajlovic1391]

Mr. Stubb, thank you for the insightful assessment. Inflation, higher food prices and huge amount of refugees, who temporarly have to provided with shelter and protection. Yes US security umbrella, the days of that are numbered. We as Europeans have to take our internal affairs in Europa in our own hands, resolve them within Europe. Not against the US, but I think understandably the US has his own interests and fully busy to deal with possible threats in South-East Asia. Getting rid of depence of Russians energy supplies is a good thing. Acclerating the transition to renewable energy is a good thing too. But my point is, that after pushing back the Russians out of Ukraine and Belarus, demilitarize Kalingrad, we could start intragrating these countries in our European framework. By this we can gain a lot by raising democracy and prosperity in these areas, be energy independent and selfsuffient regarding food/grain supplies. So your are right and this has to honestly communicated to the European people, there is a huge price to pay now, but if we are successful and do it right, the benefits for all Europeans will be well worth it. We have to look beyond the horizont and see what bright future there could be for Europe be the envy of the world, only possible with Ukraine and Belarus.

[@coderentity2079]

If you look behind the horizon, I see a mushroom cloud. You don't integrate countries, do not interfere in their elections, do not sit you puppet government there, and do not push your version of democracy on them. You can only let them join on their own. Slow, I know.

[@stischer47]

As an American, I also believe that Europe needs to take care of its problems. Not out of isolationism but that Europe is a "big boy", not a post-WWII "child". And the sooner Europe can do so, the better. What is interesting is that if Putin thought strategically rather than egocentrically, the US would have pretty much been out of Europe in 10-20 years. But he couldn't wait.

[@25thbaam43]

@@stischer47 putin hoped he will 1 win the war fast 2 EU wont have inaf time or unity to hit with the force of sanctions that we seen so far 3rd he hoped EU dependance on russian gas woud somewhat make the EU falther in their actions and he also counted on Germany not wanting to take a strong stand on this or rather he wished Germany woud keep their voice low.

[@mattijussila3007]

Europe is still a huge trade partner to US. As long as this is the case, some kind of US umbrella will stay in Europe. Also, Russian aggressions are unprecedent, which calls the Trans Atlantic co operation. Should we in Europe build up out defences? Yes! Should we take more responsibility in the European military security? Yes!

[@sokolmihajlovic1391]

@@stischer47 Ty for your comment. Peter Zeihan has some ideas about that, why now. Putin is 70 years old, he could not wait 10-20 years. Russia has lost 1 Mio. people in 2021, thx to Covid among other problems. Russia has extremely bad demographics. The health status of Russian people is pretty bad, Covid, AIDS, TB, low vitamin diet, destructive use of Wodka (like Opium in China 120 years ago), and mass use of Heroin. In 10-20 Putin, if alive, would likely not had enough people to pull this off.

[@ddk1298]

I absolutely love this series. Very insightful.

[@Robertchu]

Thank you so much, this was an invigorating analysis!

[@gonzaloibarradechile]

In the minute 9:33 is the dilemma of this war! Bravo prof Stubb, a masterpiece analysis

[@nunyabusiness863]

So true. In our now now now society, so many citizens want their wars to be neat, clean, and 'over there'. Hes absolutely right that a war that does not have a local cost in lives, will have a high cost in another area. It seems that many people aren't really ready to sacrifice for principles.

[@davidrorger7935]

@@nunyabusiness863 RUSSIA is not a thread to my country, why should I pay the cost. What a nonsense, UKRAINIEN junta pushed for this WAR, and they should bear the consequences. Wake up people, your are being lied by your media and politicians. When 2 countries are in WAR, the other countries shall loock for a peace between them, not fuel the WAR . At the end who is looser are the people of UKRAINE who will loose their country and live as refugees elsewhere. Sooner or later people get tired of supporting a WAR which is not theirs . RUSSIA is not in hurry to end the WAR, RUSSIA Economy will not suffer, because RUSSIA is a continent and produces its food, energy almost every thing every basic thing people need. Also the world is not only EU. There is Asia, Africa and Latin America , and RUSSIA is building a good ties with them, but EU is in trouble and soon will be isolated

[@territhomas8792]

I have found this series so interesting.

[@nistorvali1473]

what can I say, a right analysis of events and a perfect vision for the future of EU.

[@stefanbjorkroos483]

Whats up with the leaders in Finnland!? They got this drop dead besutifull woman sharpminded as hell, an older guy, humble and wise that can stop an hurricane just to appear. And this guy? Talk about strong leader! As a Swede, im Just so glad that i have this people as a neighbours on the other side of the baltic.

[@rinnevanderhoff2995]

Excellent.

[@gheorghefalcaru]

Very nicely explained! Bravo Alexander! Hope to hear more from you! Have you not been asked if you want to mediate in this conflict?

[@abdullahzunaid4459]

My respect to an objective Scholar👏

[@MarcosElMalo2]

I don’t think he has ever claimed to be objective! He does approach problems with intellectual rigor, though, and a grasp of the facts. He doesn’t sugarcoat the facts or use them to deceive.

[@deedoherty4663]

This is brilliant content and fantastic that it is shared for free in this way. Really important, and really powerful.

Inledning, tre punkter (naturligtvis!) och en slutsats. Känns tryggt i en osäker tid.

[@titogeopolitica]

Outstanding! 👏👏👏

[@ismaeljaramillo-cajica5152]

Amazing and very pleasant way of presenting. I loved it.

[@jjk9o9]

Excellent content. Thank you.

[@Obekant08]

Very well put Prof Alexander Stubb!

[@claudiomannoni5557]

Bravissimo Mr. Stubb … we should have more politicians like you … my huge compliment to you, and sense of trust on your person

[@theH0UNDSofD00M]

Excellent talk. Thank you sir. Mordor will be defeated, one way or the other.

[@planetdug]

Amazingly intelligent...thank you for keeping it short enough for the average American to comprehend

[@wytchend]

Incredible analysis!

[@GGSOG]

This series is brilliant 👍🏻

[@mistieblue9]

You’re absolutely true!!! Everything come to an end!!!

[@sharoncloete4060]

Brilliant!

[@BjorckBengt]

Great content. Best enjoyed at 1.5 speed.

[@creativeandaliveat65]

I think he has an international audience in mind - people who have varying degrees of command in English.

[@rolfewert6154]

This guy is really good (with his arguments) !!!

[@davidrorger7935]

Do more research and you will regret your comment

[@pierrekiroule2827]

Impressive analyst! Specially for a politician:-) As a Frenchman, i'd be ready to put your name on the voting paper! Thank you very much for your science🙏

[@airborneranger-ret]

Very nicely done ;)

[@dbass4973]

as ukrainian who was born in the last years of the ussr and lived in russian federation since - this video almost brought tears to my eyes. The civilizational gap appears to be decades if not centuries wide

[@jessicamorgan8659]

Thank you. Brilliant

[@eugeniehilbert3989]

Not all of it!

[@jacynthe2011]

You're very interesting i respect your point of view.I'm from Quebec Canada...i'm conscious of our differences but of our reciprocities...I think nato have to listen to you (finland) point of view...

[@silvy2586]

Thank you for your detailed explanation. The point is we need to avoid to be naif again and in different areas. The point is no longer appease some other 'unstable countries/dictators'. Qs: - in Europe, how can we be united when there are internal/external forces pushing to divide us? For ex. think abt Brexit, nationalisms, right/left extremisms? - how can we deal with anti-EU political stands? (LePen, Salvini, etc..) - how do we deal with countries not transparent & playing double games, such as Hungary, Serbia, Cyprus - Refugees from Africa and East are becoming a social/civil issue that could lead to extremism and even more nationalisms. It seems many politicians don't want to see this or are just naif...But it's dangerous. What shall we do? - how do we deal with forces 'attacking' Europe? China, Russia, even Turkey 'playing tricks' with refugees... China soft power and silk belt road investments are 'buying' a lot in Europe...Are we being naif on this as well? - EU is an abstract concept for many citizens.. We don't know the importance & meaning of being Europeans. We have been 'in crisis' for more than 10 years, the atmosphere is 'doom&gloom'. What does it mean being European nowadays? What are the supposed uniting values that all citizens should know and valued? - we still have unresolved realities from WWII, war in Yugoslavia, and among countries/citizens we compete a lot. Can this be a 'ticking bomb' for Europe? Is EU blind/naif on this, too?

[@satyanarayanbolamahadevara2694]

Precise, point by point presentation of issues for easy understanding by an Indian like me!

[@pisowiec]

Great!

[@philbydoodle6199]

Awesome thanks

[@lassehaggman]

Damn, Alex is good. Haven't seen him in a few years. Presidential material even.

[@greatgalaxy2118]

Hats off to Professior for his end note EU as = Eastern USA. Seems quite palusible.

[@catbill1822]

Does anyone know what he means when he says that asylum split east versus west?

[@martinwest2538]

It's interesting here to see the row of "devoted disciples" emerging under every video. There is no discussion, no questioning, no critique by these mindless minions. Still these topics Stubb is putting forward are highly controversial and the ramifications definitely can be life altering and even dangerous, if implemented as such. Of course the algorithms on the social media platforms already effectively prevent any discussion of any topic being in contradiction with the official narrative. So far I'm happy to see my recent commentaries on these videos in this platform haven't yet been removed. As an earlier commentator here stated "I feel like I am getting to sit in on a high level government briefing", this is the feeling I get too, like we are spoon-fed with a tailored world view: "this is how you shall think". There has been no questioning of the justification of any other way to view the current world we live in, just coldly dismissing or belittling any possible alternative scenarios or factual events of great importance. As an example I can mention the ramifications of the red line of Russia regarding the NATO enlargement to Georgia and Ukraine, or the Zelensky decree in April 2021 to retake Crimea as a motivation for the Russian military to gather around Ukraine. Europe surely got unified by the fear-mongering of terrorists, C*vid and Russia. Fear has always been and still is a great motivator to control the masses, and the media has not been late to use this power at full blast.

[@gooner72]

Great video my friend, absolutely spot on with your analysis of this very tragic and very dangerous war. The issue for me is that whilst we are paying higher prices on energy, oil and food prices, Ukrainians are paying the price with their lives..... which one would you rather have to do, eh... having to a higher oil price or having to pay wþ⁵ life? I'm glad that we're out of the EU...... on this subject, the EU is only just holding together and I'm pretty sure that Hungary or Italy will break the unity of the EU.

[@davidrorger7935]

And soon other will get out of EU as well, especially when they will discover that their politicians are BIG LIARS

[@A_Z716]

This is how I imagine a future prime minister of Slovakia. Thanks.

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Outstanding pragmatic presentation!!! This is a canary in the coal mine time. Does Putin win because of fear or democracy win???

[@Albireo8]

What effect (if any) do you think that the UK leaving the EU has had on this crisis?

[@francisconinydecastro3705]

EU would be so united without the envolvment of the US? ; Another question: what regionalization of globalization mean? Thank you, Prof.

[@user-pg8oy2kq4i]

As a Ukrainian I am a little bit worried that EU is going to compromise on this war leaving Ukraine alone versus Russia to avoid economic problems. Because I see it that the most reasonable variant for Europe is frozen conflict, since Ukraine winning the war would be expensive for the Union. Russia has not changed since it was founded, it will be making griefs on our territory, not only in physical sense.

[@Ophaganestopolis]

I don't know the future but I wouldn't worry in that sense. The EU has enough PTSD from World War II to consistently want (at citizen level) to help Ukraine. As long as the war continues, there will probably be a flux of refugees towards the EU and that is a very sensitive topic in the union, regional stability is valuable. Also Russia is seen as an unreliable partner that threatens stability (and literally, physically threatens the EU), so a weakened Russia that is forced to stop now is in the interest of everyone. Germany is slowly and reluctantly starting to move, being pressured by the rest. Here we understand that helping Ukraine may be economically painful at first, but not helping would be much worse.

[@JamesC785]

@@Ophaganestopolis Well said. As far as I can see it, the EU as a block will not lift any sanctions on Putin's Russia until all Russian forces withdraw from all Ukraine's lands. State aggression is totally unacceptable & Putin has shown his disregard for a rule based order. The whole sense of the European Union is to move forwards in cooperation, to grow towards a brighter future, & to not fall back into the darkness of our past. Another aspect of Europe's rising anger is over the Putin Regime's abuse of it's own citizens.

[@uuuuNB]

​@@Ophaganestopolis There really is something about European collective consciousness still being deeply traumatized by the two world wars. That's a thing some miss when they blame Europeans for caring more about Ukraine than other atrocities and wars around the globe. Other than the fact that it is of course only natural to care more about war when it's geographically closer (as an analogy, you would be far more distressed, scared and angry if there's a fire in your housing block, than if there is a fire on a whole other street or even a whole other city), there's also a case to be made that the European population is still very much traumatized by the two world wars so it gets especially uncomfortable for people to see war break out on the European continent again. I really hope we will continue to support Ukraine until the very end. I know I will, as I acknowledge there is always a price to be paid to achieve and uphold peace, but I can't speak for all the others of course. Some people live in a much more localized world so to speak, and to be fair I can also sympathize with poor families with children who might be hit extremely hard economically so I don't blame them for focusing on their loved ones. I am not in this situation, and although I'm *far* from wealthy as I'm just coming out of a very rough period of my life (heroin addiction) so I know it will hit me hard too, I am however 100% willing to pay the price. My hardship is so pathetic compared to what the Ukrainians are going through that it's not even comparable. The least I can do is to show genuine solidarity in a crucial time in history, and I've done whatever I can with my non-economy and non military skills to help by completely shutting off my radiator (Denmark is very cold so hopefully it won't be too bad in the winter lol, but luckily we're moving into summer now) and pretty much just spread the truth (to the best of my ability albeit I acknowledge I am probably a bit biased) and try to debunk Russian propaganda etc. I've had this account since 2007, and I would guess ~10 (difficult to guess, but I basically never wrote anything anywhere) out of my now 500-600 comments were before 24th February 2022. I know these are very small things in the greater scale of things, but I just can't sit passively by it's making me crazy, and because of my situation and horrid economy I can't really support in any other way unfortunately. Sorry for my random string of thoughts lol, I just really freaking hope the west will stand united and strong throughout this crisis! I have nothing against ordinary Russians, it's very clear they are a beautiful people with a magnificent culture, but holy fucking shit they have a mindblowingly horrid government! It's clear to me they've just been held hostage by corrupt oppressive assholes ever since the Mongols invaded their lands and introduced them to this authoritarian systemic corruption and oppression. Fuck the genocidal fascist war criminal Vladimir Putin and his disgusting terror state!

[@simepanda6764]

And You should be worried. This became US/EU/Russia high stake game on Ukrainian expense.

[@JamesC785]

@@uuuuNB Well said ! Stay strong - you are an inspiration. Best wishes.

[@Kartoffelsuppe_m_Wursteinlage]

@School of Transnational Governance EUI As far as I remember finnland war the guy with the brakeshoes in regard of ESM.

[@stephaniewaters1777]

Thank you for these lectures. Information-poor and scary news is the norm about the war

[@sedeslav]

Will this crisis accelerate the transition to clean energy in Europe? Can Europe transform quickly enough and agree to completely abandon dirty technologies? Can Russia's blocked funds be used to rebuild Ukraine as reparation?

[@johncook2303]

A very interesting and informative set of lectures and especially interesting as taken from a Finish perspective. Thank you. However, yes the Eu has reacted faster than it ordinarily does which is to be highly commended but let us not also forget that the EU was pretty slow in it's roll out vaccine programme initially and played politics with vaccine brands and we should also not forget that the two largest power players within the EU have not exactly been effusive in their actions in physically supplying weapons to Ukraine. It has been like drawing teeth to get the Germans to finally send real weapons as opposed to helmets. I say this for balance as the lecture is fulsome in it's praise of EU actions (and rightly so) but somehow less forthcoming in it's failings which should also be recognised. I do appreciate that the EU cannot be blamed for the actions of it's individual members but these two countries are the movers and shakers and leaders so their actions are seen as bench marks in the wider EU effort.

[@ioanai3586]

Great playlist, but regarding Europe, things seems split in 2 opposing directions: - one is UK, Poland, baltics etc - second France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy that seems to have preferred a quick loss by Ukraine and saving face for Putin.

[@gusarbecb717]

I wish we would have (the nations where my life is in between, AUT and ITA) people like Stubb. Stellar episodes.

[@philbydoodle6199]

This guy is awesome

[@artmnk]

You need to make an episode on Ukraine.

[@biscaynediver]

Thoughts on Austria stating this week that it will openly oppose Ukraine's application to the E.U.?

[@cartmann227]

Thats not true.

[@Boy90547]

He should be the next NATO Secretary General

[@daniellarson3068]

Good talks - I live in America and I agree that Europe should not rely on American security. Certainly not Russian gas, either. Finland is smart. They just built s big new very expensive nuclear power plant. It seems the cost of Russian gas would have been more since it costs more than money.

[@slamacful]

You should inform the Hungarian Prime Minister about the unity. In the Hungarian public media (which is his Master's voice) we are hearing, how the sanctions are useless, don't interfere into this conflict, don't send weapons, don't allow weapons through our territory, but subsidize the Russian gas and oil imports by low official prices, allow the operation of a Russian spybank in Hungary, and talk about the excellent opportunity to intermediate among new superpowers in a multipolar world.

[@davidrorger7935]

Hungarian Prime Minister is standing for his people and the interest of his country, not like the other EU leaders who are serving other agenda than the interest of their people

[@piasuopanki5181]

This is all very interesting to listen to ,but what IS The point of zoomimg in and out ?

[@Magyar9Andras]

9:40 A man's words of truth

[@knokgroda]

Funny thing. As the invasion began I asked many people if they thought the European united and quick response was "trained" or "honed" by covid. And nobody thought so. But now you call up exactly that example, though without maybe saying so. And I was brought back to that idea, and I still think that without the pandemic, we might not have been so united, or so willing to pay the prices you mention.

[@itlearner1175]

The fact is that Asia, Africa and South America are rising with fast pace. This is new normal for the EU and it is going to be worsen with time.

[@nostromo9797]

I agree with many of these Things Mr Stubb says. But the inflation is not because of the war, it's because of enormous money printing and reckless spending for long time. This happens to all currency that is backed by nothing.

[@CHarlotte-ro4yi]

This take is an extreme simplification of the mechanisms of monetary policy and the financial system. It is true that only small parts of the money supply are actually backed by hard reserves such as gold but in a globalised world we wouldn’t be able to back our currency completely by hard assets, hence the modern monetary system is build on trust and the outside demand for our currency. Those are the reserves the Russian state holds in Euros or Dollars as do many other countries around the world. If the global money demand for euros decreases because of external shocks (in the current context we still see a pandemic effect now being topped by the war in Ukraine) the money supply is way higher than its demand hence prices increase which we know as inflation. Has little to do with the lack of hard reserves because if that was the sole reason we would live with continuous inflation which clearly wasn’t the case for the past decade.

[@Ak3rf3ldt]

EU monetary policy regarding QE was rather on the tight side, inflation in my country was at 3% before war, so no money printing was not the problem here rather it was the energy cost that drove all the prices upwards

[@view1st]

The United States dollar will soon enough be backed by gold... the gold that it has taken in one way or another from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Ukraine, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

[@kevinmaccallum336]

Maybe freedom is NEVER free, we all have to fight for it... As the 'Winter War' proved conclusively to the Finnish population. This also applies to all freedom loving peoples worldwide.

[@agaluszka]

EU reaction to covid is excellent example of what EU REALLY is. When Stubb gives it as positive I'm afraid Finland security as a member is a big question sign

[@KampGallery]

I really appreciate hearing this Finish point of view, recognizing you don't represent the whole country, yet a very informed opinion. The West, by and large, has come to understand the limits of colonialization,(well, except for revanchists like Nigel Ferguson). The East, not so much.

[@red-baitingswine8816]

What are you even talking about? Russia (a European country) and China are being demonized by the West precisely because they refuse to be colonized, and because they collaborate with the struggling peoples of former colonies in the global South.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Before Stubbs was a businessman and politician, he was an academic. The intellectual rigor he developed in academia informs everything else. You might hate his policies, but you can’t argue that he has a hidden agenda. He lays it all out in the open, logically.

[@dasteufelhund]

Going back to your point on legacy, do you think there is a chance for Putin to seek retribution of all the breach of expansion on part of NATO, to return to the buffer states back to the 1990 and, advance the war past Poland to redraw a geopolitical landscape to prevent any attempt on part of any unified organization to attempt such breach in the future?

[@creativeandaliveat65]

What you call "buffer states" are independent nations, which were occupied and/or operated by Soviet/Russia against their will. After regaining independence, it was an existential necessity for them (the Baltic countries in particular!) to become NATO members. Putin's fantasy of the former "Soviet Socialist Republics" belonging to his expanded Russian Federation is delusional. The reality is that there are no nations obliged or wanting to join his federation.

[@dasteufelhund]

@@creativeandaliveat65 What you can independence comes at a cost, they are recognized as long as they do not apply to join NATO. Against their will? Hardly. Conditional independence, they agreed to stay as a buffer so long as they do not apply to become NATO as its effort to expand to suppress Russia's existence and sovereignty. See, you don't know the history and we can tell.

[@Kartoffelsuppe_m_Wursteinlage]

@School of Transnational Governance EUI Dear Professor, I totally agree with you regarding the price we have to pay, but please be precise, we do not pay for Ukraine, we pay it to keep our values. War in Ukraine is a occasion based on russian imperialism. It also could happen to finnland as well for a simple statement like NATO membership. So this war is our war, the outcome will be determine our freedom and our democracies, our childrens world. So this war must not be successful for russia.

[@joachim6138]

Die Kartoffel Suppe hat leider gar nichts verstanden. Der Stellvertreterkrieg in der Ukraine wurde doch offenkundig durch das imperiale Gehabe der NATO durch Überschreiten der „roten Linie“ ausgelöst, wovor verantwortungsbewusste westliche Generäle, Politiker, Politologen und Historiker schon lange gewarnt haben. Jetzt haben wir die Quittung. Was haben wir überhaupt in der Ukraine verloren? Wann hören unsere Politiker und Medienvertreter endlich auf, das Deutsche Volk für dumm zu verkaufen? In der Ukraine wird weder die Demokratie, noch werden dort unsere westlichen Werte verteidigt. Die gibt es dort doch gar nicht! - Gehört die Ukraine weltweit nicht zu den Staaten mit der größten Korruption? - Wurde Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj nicht von einem kriminellen ukrainischen Oligarchen ins Amt gehievt, der in den USA auf einer schwarzen Liste steht? - Hat Präsident Selenskyj nicht das Minsker Abkommen bewusst boykottiert und ist deshalb für den Bürgerkrieg im Donbass mit bisher 14.000 Toten - auch Frauen und Kinder !!! - verantwortlich? - Ist der Bürgerkrieg im Donbass nicht die Fortsetzung der Massaker in Wolhynien und Ostgalizien an der überwiegend polnischen zivilen Bevölkerung der ehemaligen polnischen Ostgebiete durch die Ukrainische Aufständische Armee (UPA) während des Zweiten Weltkrieges?- - Die Massaker in Wolhynien und Ostgalizien stehen laut Wikipedea im direkten Zusammenhang mit der nationalistischen Politik der Organisation Ukrainischer Nationalisten (OUN) und ihres militärischen Armes, der UPA, welche die Eliminierung der nicht-ukrainischen Bevölkerung zugunsten eines zukünftigen rein ukrainischen Staates anstrebte. Die vom Februar 1943 bis zum April 1944 durchgeführten Massaker an der polnischen Zivilbevölkerung durch die UPA in den im deutschen Machtbereich liegenden Gebieten Polens und der Ukraine nahmen Formen ethnischer Säuberungen an. Bei den Massakern wurden annähernd 100.000 Polen von ukrainischen Nationalisten ermordet. - Setzt Präsident Selenskyj nicht die nationalistische Politik der OUN fort und sind die ASOW Bataillone nicht die Nachfolger der UPA, welche die Eliminieren der nicht-ukrainischen (also russischstämmige) Bevölkerung im Donbass zugunsten eines zukünftig rein ukrainischen Staates anstrebt? - Hat Präsident Selenskyj nicht Zivilisten aufgefordert Molotowcocktails auf russische Panzer zu werfen und hat ihnen _ auch Frauen !!! - Maschinengewehre zur Selbstverteidigung in die Hand gegeben und damit gegen das Kriegsrecht verstoßen und seine eigene Zivilbevölkerung in Lebensgefahr gebracht? - ist Präsident Selenskyj nicht auch ein Kriegsverbrecher wie Putin und viele amerikanische Präsidenten? - Gehört Präsident Selenskyj nicht auch zu denen, der nach den Pandora-Papers sein Privatvermögen in Steueroasen versteckt hat? - Hat Präsident Selenskyj nicht Gesetze auf den Weg gebracht, um die russische Sprache entgegen aller demokratischen Grundsätze als Amtssprache abzuschaffen, obwohl fast überall in der Ukraine russisch gesprochen wird - in Kiew, im Osten und Süden sogar die Muttersprache der meisten Bewohner ist? - Strebt Präsident Selenskyj nicht in nationalistische Weise an, dass die russische Sprache und alles russische gänzlich aus der Ukraine verschwindet? - Hat Präsident Selenskyj nicht pro-russische TV-Sender und später pro-russische oppositionelle Parteien verboten und sogar deren Parteivorsitzende verhaftet? - Sind derartige Handlungen von Präsident Selenskyj nicht extrem nationalistisch und undemokratisch und mit unseren westlichen Werten in keiner Weise zu vereinbaren? Die Liste könnte noch weiter fortgeführt werden… Ist das unser Verständnis von Demokratie? Sind das unsere westlichen Werte, die in der Ukraine verteidigt werden? Müssen wir dafür schwere Waffen liefern? Müssen wir dafür Zig-Milliarden Euro in die Ukraine pumpen und über 4 Millionen ukrainische Flüchtlinge aufnehmen und versorgen? Wird wirklich jeden Tag ukrainisches Blut „für uns“ vergossen? Oder doch eher für die hehren Interessen unserer transatlantischen Freunde? Solltet Ihr nicht zuerst nachdenken, bevor Ihr Unsinn verbreitet wird?

[@explorer0213]

Inflation higher prices ect are well worth it the alternative will be forever looking over us all and never feeling safe from Russian aggression and threats.

[@noreavad]

You have chosen, or been choose to come to City 17!

[@gerryhouska2859]

I will pay the price, well worth it.

[@hulakan]

Here is a man who knows that three is a magic number! LOL (If ever a fourth alternative were to appear, what would he do? I expect he would integrate it into one of the other concepts in order to preserve the power of the three.) ;)

[@lawrencefox563]

Finland and Jugoslavia had to dance deftly between east and western powers in cold war era . Finland more so as they actually fought red army.

[@lawrencefox563]

Solution to just such situations as Russia / Ukraine is United Europe ,no more Napoleon,s , Hitler's etc ,etc

[@DerDop]

Huh...this is my first encounter with Finnish politicians. This is a robot that could write good poetry( no disrespect intended).

[@mirceacrisan4108]

I agree. It is not only the freedom of ukrainians. It is much more..

[@joeroganpodfantasy42]

Wait a second did this guy just lay the ground work to create USE (United States of Europe) and make himself president , I am not complaining cause since the war started we actually needed someone who could forget the individual countries and make decisions for Europe as a whole. No other crisis I have thought we needed an European President but this one makes it clear we need one if not for this case only a wartime president.

[@evilsimeon]

The war time leader idea is a slippery slope.

[@cmdv42]

💯

[@alicejyi4705]

Sometimes, when people are united, it's when there is lack of true democracy. So this is the superficial form of unity.

[@bennybenny43]

Interesting. I'm an 'euroskeptic' but I find his point of view very logical. But, but, but... But how Can he speak about ' public opinion ' when 90% of this opinion has been manipulated according to the ' perception management ' process ?

[@isaia273]

Can anyone explain why the pirates of the southern seas are more dangerous than the northern ones? I asked that question in a company with a strong intuition that it makes sense because it sounds good. Maybe Barack Obama can. And at the time Mr. W. Bush was in his first term and I didn’t know of the existence of a man who was to become the next legally elected president. Obama has always been a grasshopper preparing to damage the future with his visionary leap and limp in that present in which he 'dreams' of the future. We were Buddhists once at the same time and in the same place, and he was the manager of a Buddhist monastery in Java in Indonesia around the year 1000. For ten years I was formally subordinate to him and failed to understand the basics about his person. Due to our meeting in Java, anti-tank missiles got their name. I now know that even before more than 39,000 incarnations he was a Buddhist in Indonesia and that with his soul he was attached to North Asia, Siberia from which they crossed to America and continued to devise wonderful destabilizing strategies. This creates an extremely strange mental state. And before that he was a pirate, but limp. - If this professor ever experienced enlightenment and began to remember, he might be able to stabilize the actions of some unstable individuals, such as the former president of the United States due to common past. because of the common past they share. Even the 2008 global financial crisis would not have happened without him. / This series of events was created before more than 39,000 incarnations while he (and not the professor) was one of the two supreme commanders of the European army that occupied Russia, and he did not act as a commander but waited for his soldiers to become better people. And he knew that would not happen, because they were selected. It's like waiting for a fish to jump out of the water. I even wrote a song about it: ‘Summer time’. (fish are jumping). He acted as if he believed that some good existed in everyone who did evil already on the basis of the genetic code, and he wanted to smell it in them. That is why such a script was written for him to manage a crisis that appears as if by chance just when he enters the scene. And it observes every key point of the system and in the end the US emerges from the crisis better than everyone else. He once even dissected a man as part of preparations for it. The man set himself up almost as if he had nothing against it, for he had confidence that the seemingly faint displeasure of his previous incarnation when he had been damaged as a soldier in the war would work wonders in his composure in terms of retaliation, when the time came. . That Russian's name was Riutin and he was a Russian politician before World War II. Professor Stubb is just scratching the surface. Almost everyone does that, but he does it so systematically. 11.5.2022.

[@SuperTonyony]

If the world survives this crisis, and the Russian Federation still exists, we will continue to go through this same agony again and again, every couple of years. It's time to cut out the tumor.

[@rodgerhempfing2921]

Will the sanctions cripple Russia or just annoy putin?

[@aleksandarvujic1876]

And why do "we have to pay this price for the freedom of Ukraine" ? Why does no one ever explains this, including the respectable author of this video??? That would be really a logical topic to explore now when the danger of nuclear war is quite realistic.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

I think the answer is right there in your comment if you understand the question. Should criminality be tolerated just because the perpetrator has nuclear weapons? The answer is a resounding NO. There is also an underlying question: Does might make right? The answer is the same. No!

[@davidrorger7935]

@@MarcosElMalo2 European people will not pay the price, but they will soon wake up and wipe their leaders who are no more acting in the interest of their people. RUSSIA is Europe and France has no problem with Russia. FREXIT is coming soon

[@bishopofsahs]

🇺🇸🍺 I know I’m off topic. But I found out that a Finnish Air Force pilot landed an F-18 hornet and a US carrier back in 2017

[@Tg-kh8po]

A military union is the most likely of them to happen and needs to be done precisely and carefully. The Pentagon already kind of green lit it behind closed doors with France, the whole AUKUS drama. If it is set up like the US national guard type structure it would be best. You don’t want dissolution of national militaries but you also want to “EU” army to be the strongest on the continent to deter and prevent any potential intra-European arms race. It really is the best way to efficiently and effectively secure European peace.

[@NoreenHoltzen]

Are you kidding? There was no concept of “military union” related to Russia by default in the first place. It was created by NATO particular from 2014 when the arms started to be sent there, with anti-Russian sentiment artificially and externally encouraged by the West even further back to the late 1990s.