According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), Finland will have to increase defence spending in the late 2020s in order to meet Nato's demands.
Finland must prepare to put about four billion euros more into defence spending in the late 2020s and early 2030s, he said during an Yle Radio Suomi roundtable with journalists on Sunday afternoon.
That means that we must already give the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) the authority to plan and order materiel worth up to two percent of GDP, Orpo said, citing the Nato spending requirement.
According to Orpo, new spending should be earmarked particularly for strengthening ground forces.
The PM said that Finland will need to boost defence spending to maintain its current, required level corresponding to two percent of GDP, after its acquisition of new US-made fighter jets has been completed.
Two years ago, the Air Force confirmed the purchase of 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multi-role fighters in a long-running agreement worth 8.4 billion euros.
In 2020, the Defence Ministry budget was 3.3 billion euros, rising to 6.1 billion euros last year.
Orpo: I wouldn't call Putin
Orpo expressed disapproval of European leaders calling Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Putin on Friday.
"I wouldn't call now," Orpo said.
According to Orpo, Scholz called as the Chancellor of Germany, not in the name of, for example, the UN or the EU.
"This was Scholtz's decision. He did not speak for Europe," said the premier.
In his view, Russia is now trying to acquire the strongest possible negotiating position for itself with a view to possible peace negotiations.
"In my opinion, we should not give Putin signals that he is now somehow on top and that we’re ready to talk," said Orpo.
Quota refugee selections not based on religion
Closer to home, Orpo denied that Finland intends to use religious grounds to favour some groups in the selection of quota refugees.
According to media reports last week, the Ministry of the Interior, at the initiative of Finns Party politicians, planned to favour Christians in the selection of quota refugees. According to the Equality Ombudsman, this would constitute blatant discrimination.
"I haven’t seen any instructions like that anywhere. I haven't had to reprimand anyone," Orpo said.
"This government will not favour or discriminate against anyone based on religion in the selection of quota refugees," he pledged.