The Daily Populous Sunday March 2nd, 2025 evening edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by Deedogg11

This audio is created with AI assistance

Finland announced on Feb. 26 that it would provide 660 million euros ($691 million) in military equipment for Ukraine, supplying the embattled country with domestically-produced equipment.

The announcement did not provide detail as to what kind of equipment or weaponry the country will provide Ukraine, but will focus "on Ukraine’s critical needs," according to a news release Finland's Defense Ministry.

"The products will be delivered to Ukraine as part of future material aid packages," the news release added, without specifying a timeline.

The announcement marks a shift in how the country delivers weaponry and equipment to Ukraine, having previously donated from the country's surplus stocks. Under the new framework, Finland will order new military products from domestic defense companies to be sent to Ukraine.

"With this new support program, Finnish companies and expertise will play a central role in supporting Ukraine," the news release read. "These measures will strengthen both Ukraine's chances for a just peace and the long-term resilience of Finland’s security industry and supply chain."

The announcement comes amid new scrutiny surrounding Europe's role in supporting Ukraine in the wake of shifting U.S. policy towards Russia.

European leaders have scrambled to deliver military support to Ukraine as the U.S., under the Trump administration, races to make a peace deal with Moscow. When U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh on Feb. 18 for preliminary talks on ending the war, EU officials feared Europe was being shut out of the peace process altogether.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants Europe to play a greater role in supporting Ukraine's financial and defense needs, but his administration has sent mixed signals as to whether Europeans are welcome in the negotiations process.

Since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale invasion, Finland has provided Ukraine with 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in defense aid.

On Feb. 24, the day marking the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Nordic countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, announced additional aid funding for Ukraine — with Finland providing 4.5 million euros ($4.7 million) through the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU) for 2025-2027 to support Ukraine's resilience and stability.

TicketPlenty2024 on March 2nd, 2025 at 05:33 UTC »

EU needs to build an army very very soon

ernapfz on March 2nd, 2025 at 03:16 UTC »

Another one of the great allies! Thank you Finland 🇫🇮

lucifaxxx on March 2nd, 2025 at 03:14 UTC »

And i bet they aint demanding 500 billion in return.