Zakharova challenges Finnish president’s WWII comparison for Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova delivered a sharp response to historical references made by Finnish President Alexander Stubb during a statement about the Ukraine summit held in Washington on August 18.

Zakharova quoted Stubb’s remarks at the summit, stating, “At yesterday’s meeting in Washington, Finnish President Stubb said, word for word: ‘Finland has a long border with Russia and its own experiences with this country from the Second World War. We found a solution in 1944, and I am sure we can find one in 2025.’”

Did he comprehend the hell in his own words?

Zakharova expressed her reaction to these statements with a question: “The big question is: Did Stubb truly comprehend the hellish implication of his own words?”

Recalling historical events, Zakharova noted that Finland was in an armed conflict with the Soviet Union between 1939–1940 and 1941–1944.

“As a result of Finland’s provocations, the Soviet-Finnish War began, and Helsinki lost. A brief pause followed, after which Finland openly sided with Hitler and declared war on the USSR three days after the Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa,” Zakharova said.

Zakharova cited the words of the Finnish politician of that era, Väinö Voionmaa, who said, “We are an Axis power and have been mobilized for an offensive,” to emphasize Finland’s role as an ally of Hitler.

The Siege of Leningrad and war crimes

Highlighting that Finland itself acknowledged committing real war crimes following its own war crimes trials in November 1945, Zakharova stated that the Finns provided the most critical support to the German Army Group North during the Siege of Leningrad.

Zakharova recalled that this situation constituted a genocide against the Soviet people.

She quoted the then-Finnish President Risto Ryti, who wrote to the German ambassador, “Leningrad must be eliminated as a major city.” Zakharova noted that at least 1,093,842 people died from starvation, cold, bombing, and artillery fire during the siege, with some estimates putting the number as high as 1.5 million.

Zakharova pointed out that in 2022, the St. Petersburg City Court recognized the actions of collaborators, including Finnish armed forces, as “war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.” She added, “This was the ‘experience of interaction’ that Helsinki invested in from 1941–1943. Is this what Stubb is talking about?”

Zakharova also stated that in occupied Soviet Karelia, the Finns established more than 14 concentration camps for civilians. Of the 50,000 people who passed through these camps, approximately one-third were killed by starvation, cold, or unbearable conditions.

The solution in 1944 was the Moscow Armistice

Acknowledging that Stubb was right on one point, Zakharova said, “A solution to the Finnish problem was found in 1944. It was called the Moscow Armistice.”

With this armistice, Helsinki abandoned Hitler and the Nazis, sided with the USSR, and the Lapland War began, Zakharova explained, continuing:

“The consensus among historians is that Finland had no other choice. The victorious Red Army was sweeping the Reich and its allies across the entire front. The cunning Finns decided to make a separate peace with the USSR to avoid being a completely defeated country at the end of the Second World War.”

Zakharova concluded her remarks by stating:

“So, if Stubb intends to act as he did in 1944, he must turn his back on the Nazi allies he was with until recently and start fighting against the Kyiv regime.”