Finnish leaders are pressing Germany to abandon its reservations about weapon deliveries to Ukraine, Euroactiv reports, as President Alexander Stubb prepares for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Finnish President Stubb and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen arrived in Berlin on 21 October for the 25th anniversary of the Nordic embassy in Germany, with presidential talks scheduled for 22 October afternoon.

According to a German government spokesperson, the leaders will discuss bilateral and European policy issues regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine and NATO cooperation. Euroactiv believes the talks will likely include discussion of Ukraine’s “victory plan,” which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented to European leaders in Brussels last week.

Foreign Minister Valtonen directly addressed German concerns, stating at a press conference,

“It must be said in Berlin that we hope that Germany will play a very important role [in facing the Russian threat],” she said, emphasizing, “No matter what Russia says, we [must] understand that we aren’t responsible for any escalation because we work within international law.”

The Finnish position contrasts with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s more cautious approach. Scholz has recently rejected key points of Zelenskyy’s victory plan, namely an immediate invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and the removal of restrictions on the use of Western weapons against military targets in Russia.

While Germany has lifted restrictions around Kharkiv Oblast, Scholz remains resistant to delivering its Taurus long-range missiles. Scholz told journalists in Brussels last week,

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the war between Russia and Ukraine does not escalate into a war between Russia and NATO.”

Related:

• Ex-CIA chief Petraeus calls for expanded tactical missile support for Ukraine
• European Parliament urges member states to allow Ukraine to hit military targets in Russia
• Finnish President Stubb pledges continued aid for Ukraine during meeting with Zelenskyy
• Scholz doubles down on Germany’s stance against providing Taurus missiles to Kyiv
• Ukraine needs long-range weapons, permission to hit targets deep inside Russia, Zelenskyy says at Ramstein
• Ukraine has full right to attack Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Finnish President Stubb says
• No Taurus for Ukraine while Scholz reigns, claims foreign policy expert
• Finland exports state-of-the-art weapons to Ukraine, including prototypes in development
• Bundestag defense chair backs Germany’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russian military targets