Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said during a live Yle radio broadcast that the suspected Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian natural gas terminal does not pose a threat to Finland.
"I don't see it as a major threat to Finland. It shows a change in the way wars are fought. Ukraine will strike in the same way that Russia struck Ukraine," Niinistö said.
According to Russian media reports, two drones had been spotted in the area of the Novotek natural gas terminal on the Gulf of Finland prior to an alarm going off and a fire breaking out at the facility overnight.
The gas terminal is located just over 100 kilometres from the Russian city of St Petersburg, close to the Estonian border.
"No one has been sending drones here. I don't see Finland getting involved," Niinistö said in response to the close proximity of the drone strike to Finland. The facility is roughly 100 kilometres from the southeastern Finnish city of Kotka.
The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) also said the fire at the Russian natural gas terminal does not pose a major threat to Finland.
According to the environmental agency, the gas in the terminal is methane.
Niinistö: No war fatigue in Europe
During the broadcast on Sunday, Niinistö further noted that he does not see that war fatigue towards Ukraine is becoming an issue in Europe.
"The question is whether there is enough material. Can we produce war material? The main thing is to have something to support. Europe must put itself into a state of production," Niinistö said.
He added that this involves moving from declarations to action, for example in the production of ammunition, citing Finland as a good example for the rest of Europe.
As for developments in Ukraine's support from the US, Niinistö stated that the rhetoric in former US President Donald Trump's speeches during his first term in offce were different from his actions. Nato was strengthened then, contrary to Trump's threats, Niinistö pointed out.
To that extent, Niinistö said he did not believe that a possible second term for Trump would have negative knock-on effects for support for Ukraine.
Every war sooner or later ends in peace, Niinistö added, saying he hoped for a just and swift peace for Ukraine.
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