Due to the increasingly tense situation in Ukraine, Yle asked all of Parliament's party leaders whether Finland should reconsider its policy of not exporting weapons to the country.
Finland's Parliamentary parties are starkly divided on the question of whether the country should relax its arms exports policy, in light of the threat Ukraine faces from Russia.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin's (SDP) government programme states that: "Finland will not export defence material to countries that are engaged in war or are violating human rights."
Over the weekend, the Finns Party's recently-elected chair of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Jussi Halla-aho said he hoped for an extensive discussion of the arms export policy. He said that an arms trade ban that affects the victim of an attack does not encourage peacemaking but rather, provides practical support for the attacker.
Foreign Affairs Committee member Elina Valtonen said her National Coalition Party has long supported the idea of arms exports on a case-by-case basis.
The defence ministry has confirmed that Ukraine has requested material support from Finland towards its defence and rescue operations. The ministry told news service STT that the request for support arrived at the beginning of the year and that work about such considerations were underway.
On Saturday, President Sauli Niinistö also confirmed that Ukraine has asked Finland for assistance.
Party divisions
In light of the increased tension between Russian and Ukraine, Yle asked all of Parliament's party leaders whether Finland should reconsider its arms exports policy.
The National Coalition Party's chair, Kai Mykkänen, said Finland should reconsider its position, noting that the country "should look positively" at the possibility of arms exports.
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"The original idea of the policy was that we do not want to encourage an attacker into warfare. Ukraine is preparing to defend its territory," he said.
Mykkänen added that if the goal is to raise the threshold for attacking Ukraine as high as possible, "then it would be appropriate for all European countries to consider whether appropriate equipment could be exported."
The Swedish People's Party chair, Anders Adlercreutz, said that while Finland should not reconsider its policy of banning arms exports to conflict zones, he still thinks Ukraine is an exception.
"Ukraine is under threat. There is an obvious need for defence. It's clear that we would like assistance in a similar situation. Of course, Finland can help in many other ways. It would be important to find out what kind of aid would be most effective," Adlercreutz told Yle by email, adding that the matter is being examined by the defence ministry.
Green League parliamentary group chair, Atte Harjanne, was also positive toward the idea of examining the policy but would not comment on whether arms exports to Ukraine should be allowed.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Christian Democrats' parliamentary group, Päivi Räsänen, said that the issue should be seriously considered.
"However, there are many sides to this. It's important that Finland shows its direct support, and the exceptional export of arms could also be considered. However, we need to keep in mind that doing so could change Finland's security policy position," Räsänen said, adding that the chances of Finland's ability to help need to be clarified.
On the other hand, Harry Harkimo, the chair of the Movement Now party said Finland should send arms to Ukraine.
"After all, we may find ourselves in the same situation as Ukraine is now. If we do get into such a situation, no one will send them to us," he said.
Unlike his party colleague, Halla-aho, the Finns Party's parliamentary group chair Ville Tavio does not think Finland should change its current policy on arms exports.
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"Let's stay out of conflicts instead of opening up arms exports," he said, adding that Finland should continue with other means of support and assisting civilians.
"In order for Finland not to become a party to the conflict, Finland should not export arms to regions of conflict," Tavio said.
The Centre Party's parliamentary group chair, Juha Pylväs, had a similar position, saying that Finland should continue with its well-established policy.
SDP MP Kristiina Salonen commented instead of the party's parliamentary group chair Antti Lindtman, saying she did not want a change either.
"I think that Finland's policy must not contribute to increased tensions between states, but instead we must strive to reduce them. The export of arms would certainly be a measure that would increase tension," Salonen said.
Similar sentiments were heard from the Left Alliance's parliamentary group chair Jussi Saramo.
"A peaceful, diplomatic solution must be found to the conflict in Ukraine. Finland should not become a party to the crisis," Saramo said.
Anu Turtiainen,the sole member of the Power Belongs to the People party as well as its parliamentary group leader, said that Finland should not export arms to Ukraine.
"Considering Finland's sensitive geopolitical situation, Finland should generally return to its foreign policy practices of only recognising states, not governments, and not export weapons to conflict areas," Turtiainen said in an email response.
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Researcher: Finland should be prepared to export arms to Ukraine
Meanwhile, the leading researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Charly Salonius-Pasternak, said Finland should be prepared to export arms to Ukraine.
"But the obvious reason why this is not being done is Russia," he said, noting that Finland has exported arms to Middle Eastern countries which have been at war for a long time, have committed human rights violations and participated in regional conflicts.
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"It is hard to see what would be the difference between those things other than a fear of how Russia would react," he said, adding that Finland would expect to receive similar assistance from other countries if it found itself in the same situation as Ukraine.
"The issue needs to be discussed and there should be justification for why Finland could not support another democracy by giving or selling arms that are clearly intended for the purpose of defence, because we would like this to be done for us," Salonius-Pasternak said.
Some of parliament's party group leaders justified their reason for not providing arms to Ukraine as a way to avoid becoming a participant in a conflict.
But the researcher did not accept that argument.
"That's nonsense. Finland is already part of the EU and its sanctions policies. Finland has already taken a position. Finland's current policy is based on the fact that we want to be part of the West. The idea that Finland would be a separate island between the East and West feels like fabricated guilt or a longing for an historical myth," he said.