The president of Finland, Sauli Niinisto, is the person considered most responsible for bringing his country into the NATO alliance — and Sweden, too, which is awaiting ratification — following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
President Biden has consulted him about Russia and its president, Vladimir V. Putin, whom Mr. Niinisto has met numerous times.
The war in Ukraine will last a long time, he said, and wars can take unexpected paths, even toward the use of nuclear weapons.
The invasion, Mr. Niinisto said, was “a wake-up call” for Europe and NATO.
That might be a good question — whether all Europeans realize that this is a European issue.”
Persons:
Sauli, —, Biden, Vladimir V, Putin, Niinisto, ”
Organizations:
NATO, Mr, Ukraine
Locations:
Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, Russia, Helsinki, Europe