May Day Reflections from a President—and a Student

The former President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, was both a lawyer and a politician during his career. That combination is not particularly rare, but what is unusual is a former head of state openly sharing memories from his student days.

Niinistö was likely inspired by the upcoming May Day Eve, which in Finland is a celebration not only for workers but also for students. That was already the case during his own time as a law student, when the festivities would begin well in advance.

One year, however, the student celebrations in Turku took a turn when a law students’ organization was caught selling alcohol illegally. Niinistö didn’t elaborate on the consequences but did offer a cryptic comment: the festivities didn’t end there—“lawyers always find a loophole.”

As a student, Niinistö lived mostly on study loans but worked whenever he could. He was willing to take on any job, so the future MP, minister, and president gained some early experience in the political trenches—by, for example, repairing sewers.

Looking back, he described the most valuable lesson of those years as learning, little by little, to recognize different kinds of people—and to understand that “in the end, we’re all carved from roughly the same wood.”

One of the president’s most poignant international memories was connected to the Prague Spring—the Czechoslovak uprising of 1968. Niinistö had a couple of Czech friends who, inspired by the movement, returned to their homeland that spring and disappeared. As he put it: “the guys went to Prague in the spring, and nothing was ever heard from them again, even though they were passionate fellows.”

That story reminds us of the cruelty inflicted by the Soviet-led socialist dictatorship within its sphere of influence. And it strengthens our resolve to ensure that Europe is never again divided into spheres of influence between the West and Russia.

With these presidential memories, I wish all readers of this blog a joyful May Day! Enjoy the spirit of spring—whether you are a worker, a student, or simply a fellow human being. And always stay on the right side!

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Brianna Wu's advice and the reality of Finnish politics
Finnish horror gallery and reality
What seemed to be impossible just two years ago is going to happen in very near future

Be Ready: Russia May Launch Another "Special Operation"

The Finnish news outlet MTV3 relayed a story from The Wall Street Journal, according to which Russia plans to move tens of thousands of troops closer to the Finnish border. This is all part of a broader reorganization of Russian forces, focusing on the directions of Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Russia is also building a new railway near the borders of Finland, Norway, and Estonia, while simultaneously expanding existing routes. Naturally, this development is being closely watched in Finland.

A Finnish major interviewed in the article noted that "there are about a dozen places along the Finland–Russia border where mechanized forces can cross... If Russia is building new railways or upgrading old ones, it is important to pay attention to these developments."

Major General Sami Nurmi, for his part, pointed out that for the Russian military, size always matters. It is therefore no surprise that the plans are large-scale, as Putin’s dictatorship anticipates some form of conflict with NATO. 

This was confirmed by Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belusov, who stated that Russia must be ready for conflict with NATO. However, it remained unclear who might initiate such a conflict, as President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Russia has no plans to attack NATO countries - but that may well be a bluff.

On the other hand, Ukrainians and many Westerners — myself included — fear that Russia may test NATO’s capabilities if its invasion of Ukraine concludes — even by their own interpretation — with some form of victory. This is a concern also voiced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

If the situation escalates, it must first be noted that Russian soldiers who have gained combat experience in Ukraine will form the new backbone of Russia’s army, which is a major advantage compared to the forces of Finland, Estonia, or the Baltic countries, who largely lack real combat experience.

Russian forces are also equipped with material that has been tested under real battlefield conditions, and it appears that their supplies are not running out, despite earlier assumptions. In fact, Russia was producing only about forty T-90M main battle tanks per year four years ago — today they are producing around 300 annually.

According to Finnish assessments, very few of these tanks are actually being sent to Ukraine. Even if they were, the current production lines would quickly replenish them, whereas European defense industries would first need to be rapidly scaled up before reaching comparable output levels.

* * *

Based on all this, it is clear that, first of all, European countries must come to an agreement on strengthening their defense capabilities. Not only that, but they must also prepare ready and functional plans for scaling up to mass production of military equipment if needed.

Secondly, EU countries and NATO should issue clear warnings to Russia against attacking their neighbors and commit to collective defense. This should be done both through NATO, emphasizing the significance of Article 5, and through bilateral agreements.

Finally, I would note that the Baltic countries are at the greatest risk, given their relatively weak military capabilities. In contrast, the armed forces of Finland and Poland are strong and serve as an effective deterrent against potential "special operations" across their borders.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Will Russia Test NATO's Article Five?
Duck emphasizing the urgency of the new border law
Putin's Threat Bolsters European Border States' Defense Against Russia

Bless Ukrainian Soldiers With the Spirit That Once Defined the Celebrated Finnish Veterans

During the Second World War, Finland fought three separate wars. The first of these was the legendary Winter War, in which a nation of just 3.7 million people fought virtually alone against the Soviet Union, which was indirectly supported by Germany. Despite overwhelming odds, Finland managed to preserve its independence, though it had to cede one-tenth of its territory.

This loss fostered a spirit of revenge, leading Finland to attempt to reclaim its lost lands — and to conquer Eastern Karelia, home to related Finno-Ugric peoples — when Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941. In this Continuation War, too, the Soviet Union was the first to initiate hostilities. Unlike Germany, however, Finland managed to halt the Soviet Red Army’s major offensives toward the end of the Continuation War and preserved its independence, with borders roughly similar to those agreed after the Winter War.

The two wars mentioned above are relatively well known even outside Finland. However, few have even heard of the Lapland War. It broke out on September 15, 1944, because the Soviet Union made the rapid expulsion of German troops from Finland one of the conditions of the Continuation War’s armistice.

At that time, northern Finland was a major base for a very large number of German troops — over 200,000 men — who had fought alongside Finland during the Continuation War and now had to be expelled swiftly according to the peace terms. If the Finns failed to do so, Stalin threatened that the Soviet Union would "send assistance" — effectively meaning a renewed attack on Finland, which was simultaneously required to demobilize most of its own army.

Due to this situation, and the relatively small size of the Finnish forces in Lapland — at most about 75,000 soldiers — the Finns were forced to attack the Germans first by surprise, without a formal declaration of war, and later with increasing but often tactically unwise aggressiveness. As a result, Finnish casualties were very high, and the surprised German troops retaliated for what they saw as betrayal by burning almost every building in northern Finland to the ground. Fortunately, most of the civilian population had been evacuated across the border into Sweden.

Moreover, the Germans scattered anti-personnel mines from their depots throughout the region, causing deaths and injuries well into the 1960s, during my own childhood. It is no wonder, then, that until the collapse of the Soviet Union — and the inflow of money brought by East German tourists that followed — the people of northern Finland harbored a deep hatred toward the Germans.

Through great sacrifice, Finland managed to satisfy Stalin and avoid a new Soviet invasion. This was achieved even though the Finnish army ultimately failed to capture the narrow northwesternmost corner of Finland, where German forces held strong positions in extraordinarily defensible — virtually unconquerable — terrain. They abandoned these only when the broader situation of the ongoing world war forced them to.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Lapland War. It is also the Finnish Veterans’ Day, when we honor the memory of those men who defended our country in their youth. 

At the same time, I extend my heartfelt wishes to all the soldiers fighting for Ukraine, hoping they may be blessed with the same skill, valor, courage, resilience, and unwavering determination that the Finnish veterans so nobly displayed during the Second World War.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A Different Kind of Christmas
Finns - Among the World’s Best
Ukraine’s Situation Mirrors Finland in 1944

Why Hamas Is Unwilling to Give Up Its Weapons

Representatives of the terrorist organization Hamas are scheduled to meet with mediators of the ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, Egypt. Perhaps for that reason, Hamas has announced that it is ready to release all remaining hostages and agree to a five-year ceasefire.

However, it refuses to give up its weapons, which has been Israel’s condition for peace. In other words, Hamas’s proposal is unlikely to have been made in earnest — although of course, I would very much hope that it were.

This led me to reflect on why Hamas insists on keeping its weapons. During the Gaza war, it has become extremely clear that their weapons are of no real use against the Israeli army, and thus the organization is completely incapable of protecting Palestinian civilians with them.

This leaves two obvious possibilities. In my view, the more likely one is that Hamas uses its weapons to maintain control over the Gaza Strip by suppressing dissent among Palestinians. The motive for holding on to power is the opportunity it provides for personal enrichment and a comfortable life.

This fact is illustrated by the enormous wealth amassed by Palestinian leaders — for example, the billions of dollars in assets owned by the family of the late Ismael Haniyeh, or Khalid Mashal’s fortune, reportedly reaching up to many billion euros. Similarly, Yahya Sinwar, who led Gaza until his death, and Mussa Abu Marzouk also had fortunes amounting to billions.

The second — though in my opinion less likely — possibility is that Hamas intends to continue using its weapons for terrorist attacks against Jews. Without significant military capability, such attacks would be reduced to sporadic stabbings and similar — repugnant yet relatively minor — actions, making it impossible for terrorists to even dream of carrying out assaults similar to that of October 7 in the future.

As a result, Hamas and its leadership might find it difficult to maintain their popularity among Palestinians. The effectiveness of terrorism is illustrated by the fact that every terror attack committed in Western countries has been wildly celebrated by many Palestinians (example).

Of course, the two possibilities I have described are not mutually exclusive. Rather, their combination provides a strong motive for refusing to surrender weapons. And naturally, there may be a variety of other reasons for retaining them as well. However, it is clear — as I have stated — that Hamas’s weapons have absolutely nothing to do with defending Palestinians from any potential threat posed by Israel. 

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
In Finland, the Enemy Is Clear – and Now the Truth Is Emerging for the Palestinians Too
The Complete Demilitarization of Gaza: What Would It Mean for the Palestinians?
Questions to the Winners of the Gaza War

Ego at the Altar

The death of Holy Pope Francis occurred at an interesting time. This is because a large number of the world's heads of state will attend the funeral, and tradition dictates that only royalty are seated in the front row.

It remains to be seen, then, where the President of the United States, Donald Trump, will be seated. Will he have to humble himself and accept a second-tier seat, or will he dare to challenge a two-thousand-year-old institution to change its practices and place him in the front row?

Of course, this matter is of no importance to anyone except Donald Trump himself. And for that reason, making a fuss about it would be, to put it mildly, embarrassing for him — regardless of the outcome. Unfortunately, however, his behavior during his second presidential term has prompted us ordinary folks to watch with great interest to see whether his massive ego can adapt to the occasion.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Trump Speaks from Putin’s Pocket – A Perilous Shift in the Ukraine War
Can Trump Resist the Kremlin’s Lure?
The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now

Trump Speaks from Putin’s Pocket – A Perilous Shift in the Ukraine War

Donald Trump's proposal to end the war in Ukraine was like a godsend for Russia. First of all, he announced that he was ready to legally — de jure — recognize Russia’s control over the Crimean Peninsula.

Secondly, he is prepared to accept — de facto — Russia's occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. These are areas that contain a significant share of Ukraine's vital natural resources and where a large part of Ukraine’s industry and mining operations were concentrated before the war.

Additionally, Trump wanted to block Ukraine from joining NATO but did not offer any credible alternative security guarantees.

Finnish Member of Parliament Jani Kokko (Social Democrats) rightly pointed out that "this is an outright catastrophic shift away from the principle that has been pursued in Europe and internationally for decades: that war cannot be used to achieve political goals." Therefore, according to Finnish MP Jukka Kopra (National Coalition Party), "Trump’s proposal appears to suggest that Russia is pursuing its own war aims and has managed to draw the United States into its orbit."

As for me, I will simply say that this peace proposal only further strengthened my impression that Donald Trump has, in one way or another, ended up in Vladimir Putin’s pocket. And that he is acting from there in Putin’s interest — while causing nearly irreversible damage. Not just to Ukraine, but to the entire world — including the United States he leads.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Can Trump Resist the Kremlin’s Lure?
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Agree on Cooperation to Bring Peace to Ukraine
Political Rhetoric Like Trump-Zelenskyi’s Has Deep Historical Roots

A New Beginning: Economic Independence in the Hands of Developing Nations

Finland’s Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra (Finns Party), has announced today that Finland will further reduce the funding allocated to development aid. This move is primarily driven by the weakness of Finland’s own economic situation.

The same may sooner or later be inevitable for several other European countries as well, if they aim to get their national debt under control. Therefore, it would be reasonable for developing countries that receive aid from EU nations to take responsibility for their own affairs.

This would mean prioritizing key issues, implementing determined economic policies, and above all, eradicating corruption. However, it remains to be seen whether they will succeed—or whether these countries will plunge into chaos as Western aid diminishes.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Trump’s Tariff Weapon Worked, but Will Finland’s Development Aid Strategy Succeed?
Finland Suspends Development Cooperation with Som
Responsible Development Aid and New Priorities: Finland's Development Cooperation Reforms

Can Trump Resist the Kremlin’s Lure?

According to a recent report in The Moscow Times, Russia is attempting to entice U.S. President Donald Trump into an agreement that would reorganize the spheres of influence between the great powers. In other words, a return to the post-World War II era, when Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain into two parts—one of which was controlled by Moscow’s brutal communist regime, even through military interventions if necessary.

Such an objective, of course, cannot be acceptable to any sane Western leader. And that’s why every person in the free world must believe and hope that Donald Trump is exactly that.

However, according to The Moscow Times, the Kremlin does not share this view. It is exploring what kind of “carrots” might persuade the U.S. President to agree to the division of Europe. The list includes bilateral agreements on rare earth metals and Russian support for the U.S. in the Iran negotiations.

Donald Trump is also being tempted with personal benefits, such as the opportunity to build a Trump Tower in Moscow—something he has dreamed of since the 1980s. Of course, I understand how that might appeal to the president, even if accepting such a proposal would strongly reek of corruption—sacrificing democratic Europe for personal gain and vanity.

That is precisely why I believe the coming months will be exciting to follow in terms of the relationship between Trump and the Kremlin. Hopefully, we’ll see the Kremlin’s ambitions dashed against the solid reason of a sane U.S. president—one who proves he is not the kind of rascal the Kremlin takes him for.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Good luck to Chancellor Friedrich Merz!
The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now
Has President Trump Lost His Grip on Reality?

Will Fossil-Free Energy Turn Finland’s Economy Toward Growth?

One of the biggest international goals is to phase out fossil energy. That’s why it was interesting to note that 95 percent of Finland’s electricity production was based on fossil-free energy sources in 2024 — including nuclear, wind, hydro, and solar power, as well as renewable fuels.

Last year also marked a milestone: wind power surpassed hydropower to become the second largest source of electricity production. The only larger source is nuclear energy, which accounted for 38 percent of Finland’s electricity supply.

This development is not only excellent for climate action but also because fossil-free energy gives a competitive edge to investments that consume a lot of energy. For this reason, Finland is expected to attract a wide range of international investments in the coming years — from various data centers to fossil-free hydrogen production.

If and when these future promises are fulfilled, Finns will have reason to expect the national economy to finally embark on a path of growth. At the same time, Finland’s public finances could move toward balance — especially since the Finnish government has promised to implement reforms that support economic growth over the next two years.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Green Movement is Withering – And That’s Not a Bad Thing
The difficult times for Finland's economy are coming to an end
Towards green energy despite serious drawbacks

From Sugar to Sweeteners—And into the Fire?

Noncaloric sweeteners are widely used in foods and beverages to provide a sweet taste without the calories of sucrose. However, some studies suggest that these sweeteners may stimulate appetite—essentially leading from the frying pan into the fire.

Chakravartti and colleagues sought to investigate this by giving 75 young adults a drink containing either sucralose, sucrose, or water. To study the effects, they used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine how the consumed drink affected the hypothalamus—a brain structure that plays a key role in regulating appetite.

Compared to sucrose, consuming the noncaloric sweetener increased blood flow to the hypothalamus and triggered stronger hunger responses. The results highlight the complexity of the neural mechanisms that regulate appetite and indicate that replacing sugar with noncaloric sweeteners is not a straightforward solution to obesity.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Shower Taking and Interfering Elephants
Traditional beliefs turned out to be wisdom
Microbial solution to malnutrition?

Alien Life Discovery May Prompt Rethinking of Faith

With the help of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) have been detected in the atmosphere of an exoplanet—compounds that on Earth are produced solely through biological processes. This suggests that the planet very likely harbors at least microbial life.

In 2022, the James Webb Telescope also detected methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the planet K2-18 b, which in itself could indicate the possibility of life. The two newly discovered chemicals reinforce this possibility, although their presence alone is still not enough to confirm the discovery of life with certainty.

It is clear that research on planet K2-18 b will receive funding following these observations. Therefore, it is likely that within a reasonably short time—just a few years—we may finally find out whether life on Earth is truly unique in the universe.

If that turns out not to be the case, it would have enormous implications for human life on Earth as well. This is because all religions that include a creation story would be forced to re-evaluate their doctrines — and perhaps even admit that we humans may not be quite as unique among the beings of the universe as we’ve been accustomed to believing.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

The Dire Wolf and the Rights of Extinct Human Species
Did You Know That 1952 Was a Turning Point in World Eras?
Human curiosity altered an orbit of an asteroid

UK Supreme Court Distinguishes Between the Rights of Women and Trans Women

The United Kingdom's Supreme Court has ruled that not all women's rights can be granted unless one is biologically female. Such a right includes, for example, the use of women's restrooms, which are no longer accessible in the island nation to men with a feminine gender identity.

The court’s decision is, of course, appropriate and reasonable, and I have no objection to it whatsoever. What I do find strange, however, is that such self-evident matters need to be clarified in court. 

Then again, we all remember last year’s Olympics, where a person — at least partially biologically male — won in two women’s boxing divisions. Would it be wrong if the right of these winners to compete in the women's division were challenged in court, even retrospectively?

Time will tell how the UK’s decision will affect women’s rights in other countries. Will they also follow clear common sense, or is there still some corner of the world where women’s status is willingly undermined to appease the demands of people with differing sexual identities?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Javier Milei and the Great Western Opportunity
A Fair Game or Unfair Judgment?
Everyone has the right

A Lesson for the Chinese: Never Trust the Russians

The Kyiv Independent reported on Chinese nationals who fought for Russia against Ukraine – and were subsequently captured. According to them, they had voluntarily enlisted in the Russian army.

One of them explained that a recruiter had told him that a Chinese person joining the Russian military could earn 200,000–250,000 Russian rubles per month (about €2,100–2,600), which is more than the average wage in China. The recruiter also promised to pay for his travel to Russia and help him obtain the necessary documents.

The Chinese man didn’t know any Russians personally, so he believed the promises. Instead of receiving the promised income, however, the Russians confiscated his bank card and phone, leaving him unable to access his earnings. He also reported that he had been targeted by Russian “chemical weapons” right after being captured by Ukrainian soldiers.

In the end, it was the Ukrainians who saved his life and have treated both captured men well ever since. As a result, they sent a message to their fellow countrymen, saying that everything they had heard from the Russians was a lie. It turned out that Russia wasn’t as strong, and Ukraine wasn’t as weak as they had been told. Therefore, it’s better not to take part in any wars at all.

Hopefully, Chinese citizens will take the message from these prisoners seriously and avoid being lured into Putin’s army by Russia’s empty promises. At best, one might come out of it alive — but even that is unlikely.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Number of Predators is Increasing in Russia
Massive Blow to Russian Artillery: Ukraine Claims 1,644 Pieces Destroyed in March
Russian Fake News vs. Reality

Human Rights Judge Pauliine Koskelo Questions Asylum Interpretation That Ignores the Threat of Hybrid Warfare

The immigration of people from developing countries has become a major problem for EU countries, as a large proportion of them have not wanted to adapt to the European way of life. Regarding Eastern EU countries, it must also be noted that Russia seeks to use people of developing country backgrounds as a tool of hybrid warfare by transporting them to its own or Belarus's eastern border to attempt to cross into the West.

For this reason, Finland has enacted a temporary border security law, based on which the border with Russia has been closed to traffic. Therefore, it was interesting to note that former European Court of Human Rights judge Pauliine Koskelo commented on the ongoing parliamentary debate about extending Finland’s border security law.

According to the judge, it is evident "that with respect to border situations, the only scenario considered in interpretive practice is that anyone attempting to cross the border outside normal passport control, appearing to be a 'civilian', is a potential asylum seeker who must be allowed into the country so that they have an opportunity to seek asylum. The question is, how far can such an approach based on a single fundamental assumption — one that leaves no room for, for example, the protection of national security — be extended?"

She continued that "this alone should require that the contracting state retains a real possibility to repel actions by a third state that would unlawfully funnel unknown people with unknown intentions across its border... The idea that the need to protect national security should have no significance even when a foreign state begins to 'push' unknown individuals across the border — while at the same time controlling who these people are, how many there are, where they may come from, what their intentions are, and the risk situation posed on their side of the border — seems difficult to defend, especially if there are signs of hostile state motives behind the circumstances."

She concluded her view by stating that "if even in such a scenario the contracting state would have to allow free entry to anyone solely on the basis that they declare themselves as asylum seekers or create a first impression suggesting so, it could be reasonably assessed that the limits of interpretative acceptability would be seriously tested."

Koskelo’s view matches my own and undoubtedly also that of almost all other people. Therefore, it is astonishing that there are still people in Finland who seem to firmly believe that Vladimir Putin has the right to push as many people as he wishes across the Finnish border, simply because international human rights treaties could be interpreted that way. Not long ago, even Finland's Constitutional Law Committee included three such individuals: one from the Left Alliance, one from the Greens, and one from the Social Democrats.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

Should Finland Heed the Warnings of a Left-Wing Idealist?
Finland to Tighten Citizenship Requirements Further
Duck emphasizing the urgency of the new border law

Should Finland Heed the Warnings of a Left-Wing Idealist?

The American scholar John Mearsheimer has commented on Finland’s NATO membership in an extremely negative tone. According to him, joining the alliance has weakened Finland’s security situation, and furthermore, the decision was made at the worst possible time.

In Mearsheimer’s view, instead of joining NATO, Finland should have continued its post-World War II policy of "Finlandization," where the country refrained from criticizing the Soviet Union's actions, no matter what they were. During that time, politicians and the media lied directly to the Finnish people about the conditions, human rights issues, and ambitions of their eastern neighbor.

However, it is noteworthy that despite all this, most Finns lived in constant fear, day and night, that Russia would occupy the country — a country with no allies to come to its aid in times of crisis. In other words, people feared a repeat of the Winter War.

Mearsheimer has also stated that Finland joined NATO at a completely wrong moment, as the alliance is now facing deep problems. He even speculated that U.S. forces might withdraw from Europe and that NATO’s Article 5 — the obligation to assist a member state under attack — would lose its significance.

He further claimed that Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has been wrong about Ukraine from the very beginning because Stubb believes in discredited ideas promoted by Western liberal imperialists since the end of the Cold War.

* * * 

After reading Mearsheimer’s views, I found myself reflecting on his words. His credibility is bolstered by the fact that already in 1993, he predicted that Ukraine should not give up its nuclear weapons the following year.

First, I concluded that neither I nor almost any other Finn — except for some on the far left — want in any way to return to the era of Finlandization. That’s why I deeply support Finland’s NATO membership and the DCA agreement with the United States, to ensure we are never again left alone if Russia attacks.

Second, I fully understand that if NATO and the DCA were to lose their significance, it would be impossible for a country of five and a half million people to maintain its independence in the event of a full-scale Russian assault. Finland’s only option would be to make the price of conquest unbearably high for Russia — just as happened in the Winter War of 1939–40 (as a result of which Finland lost about 10 percent of its territory), during which Soviet casualties reached 321,000–381,000 in about one hundred days, despite Finland's lack of modern weaponry and allies.

* * *

In light of the threat posed by Putin, I have advocated here on this blog that Western European states must build sufficient military strength and commit — within the EU framework or otherwise — to each other’s defense. Many leading European politicians, including Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, currently share this view.

Thus, it seems to me that by the time Russia and Vladimir Putin find a way out of Ukraine, Western Europe — including Finland — will have grown militarily strong enough that Russia will no longer have the capacity even to threaten its security. This is something Mearsheimer should be aware of as well.

Therefore, I found it puzzling and decided to look more closely into this scholar. I discovered that in 2019, he supported the far-left Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Considering the historical record of socialists worldwide, this revealed to me that Mearsheimer is completely incapable of rational thinking.

Thus, I asked myself how much weight should really be given to Mearsheimer’s views on Finland’s security policy — and I concluded: not very much after all.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
From Finnish Neutrality to Russian Ruins
Donald Trump’s Reliability as an Ally Has Proven to Be Questionable
Finally, Finland Speaks the Truth Without Fear!

The Dire Wolf and the Rights of Extinct Human Species

The Americans have announced that they have brought back to life a dire wolf that lived during the Ice Age. Or, more precisely, they have created a hybrid — a cross between a gray wolf and an ancient dire wolf.

This was made possible by two things. First, the genome of the dire wolf has been successfully determined from fossil material. And second, the general advancement of methods for modifying the DNA of living organisms.

The case is the first of its kind and particularly interesting because the animal species in question is not actually very closely related to the wolf. Instead, it belongs to an entirely different genus within the canine family. Thus, quite a lot of genetic modifications had to be made, and the resulting animals may not — or even likely will not — behave like the original dire wolves.

It remains to be seen what will happen to these hybrid animals in the future. Will they become free predators roaming the North American wilderness, or — as I rather suspect — exhibition pieces harnessed for profit in zoos or even in some kind of traveling shows? It will also be interesting to see whether this revival of the dire wolf will be followed by attempts to bring back other extinct creatures, like mammoths or thylacines.

One thing is certain, however: the creation of these animals will spark lively debate about the ethics of science. And there is little doubt that the most heated discussions will center around humanity’s own relatives.

After all, with the methods that have now been successfully used, it is possible — at least in theory — to also bring back extinct human species. Such as Neanderthals, Denisovans, or even Homo erectus.

If that were to happen, difficult questions would arise. For example, regarding whether they should be granted the same human and civil rights as everyone else.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Historical Merging of Human Groups
Number of Predators is Increasing in Russia
African female and Persian male ancestors

From Finnish Neutrality to Russian Ruins

Russia's attack on Ukraine has led to a complete transformation of Finland's foreign policy. Whereas during the Soviet era, politicians in my home country often aligned themselves with the positions of our great eastern neighbor, and even at the beginning of this millennium avoided directly criticizing the blatant injustices it committed, today they are ready to respond to Russia's actions exactly as they deserve.

We saw another example of this today when the Finnish Parliament — unanimously, note, unanimously, from the left to the right — approved the government's proposal for a complete ban on Russian real estate acquisitions. As a result, Minister Antti Häkkänen (National Coalition Party) expressed his "great joy that Parliament so comprehensively supported this proposal, whose goal is to strengthen national security. This decision sends a clear message: we will not allow Finland to be destabilized."

Meanwhile, in Ukraine itself, Russian forces have once again attacked and even made some advances, but only at great cost. In particular, Ukrainian drones have caused significant destruction among the attackers. According to Ukrainian sources, drones have been responsible for as much as 70 percent of the losses suffered by Russian forces.

According to Finnish expert Pasi Paroinen, satellite images have made it possible to assess that Russia has almost no old Soviet-era stockpiles left. It remains to be seen what Putin and his military leadership will do once the very last museum piece has been retrieved from storage and sent to be destroyed by Ukrainian drones.

The question is: should they finally give up?

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finally, Finland Speaks the Truth Without Fear!
Putin Set a Goal — Failure Would Be an Embarrassment
Turning Points in the War in Ukraine and the West's Responsibility

Good luck to Chancellor Friedrich Merz!

The coalition negotiations in Germany have been concluded, and as a result, the next Chancellor of the country will be Friedrich Merz from the Christian Democrats (CDU). His government is scheduled to begin its work in the early days of May. The coalition will include the CDU, CSU, and SPD, and with this, Merz sent a message to the President of the United States, stating that "Germany is back on track."

Naturally, the government's effectiveness remains to be seen, but it will certainly not be helped by the fact that Germany's economic growth is expected to slow to almost zero in the near future. On the other hand — as we have all noticed — at least the trade war between the US and the EU, previously threatened by Donald Trump, has for now been called off by both sides.

According to Merz, the incoming government plans to significantly increase the country's defense spending and will also provide comprehensive support for Ukraine.

Domestically, the government faces pressure from the AfD, whose support has recently risen to match that of the CDU/CSU according to the latest polls. 

However, it remains to be seen how the government's policies, especially its program described as critical of immigration, will affect the popularity of different parties in the coming years.

What is clear, however, is that for the EU, the success of Merz’s government in both domestic and foreign policy would be important. Therefore, it is only fitting to wish him success in his new role.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
What will post-migration Europe look like in the future?
Will Tomorrow’s Elections in Germany Be a Turning Point?
Afghan's Rampage in Germany Signals the End of the Value-Liberal Era in the EU

The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now

It has been difficult for us Europeans to understand why Donald Trump has been so popular among American voters. Of course, he has made some good decisions regarding immigration and the excesses of value liberalism, but on the other hand, his foreign policy endangers the unity of the Western world in the face of China and Russia and leads to a decline in the standard of living on both sides of the Atlantic.

Naturally, we do understand that behind this lies the economic self-sufficiency stemming from the greatness of American society, which slows down the impact that closing borders has on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. And, of course, the DEI/woke movements that have eroded American society from within during the Democrats’ time in power, and which many have grown thoroughly tired of.

According to recent information, however, it now seems that even for Americans, enough is enough. This is indicated by a fresh poll showing that 50.2 percent of Americans disapprove of the president and his administration’s actions, while only 46.4 percent approve. Even Elon Musk has noticed that Trump’s actions are becoming costly for him personally as well.

It remains to be seen how Trump will respond to these numbers — and how that will affect how he leads the country in relation to the rest of the world.

Right now, the most important thing would be to express strong support for Ukraine, both in words and actions. This is because Russia has just launched its spring offensive, and its success would be in no Western country's interest — least of all the USA’s, since Putin and Xi seem to have found common ground and, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, pose a significant security threat to the Americans.

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Number of Predators is Increasing in Russia

The war in Ukraine has had many different consequences. However, not many people have considered that one of them is the rapid growth of the wolf population in the Murmansk region, which has led to an exceptionally large number of these dog-like predators crossing the border into Finland.

Wolves are also being spotted on the Russian side of the Kola Peninsula in places where they have never been seen before. And this is not a one-time occurrence, as Russia’s wolf population has grown significantly during previous wars as well.

According to Finnish large carnivore researcher Ilpo Kojola, the explanation for the increase in wolves is that military personnel have played—and still play—a significant role in regulating Russia’s wolf population. And they are not dealing with the wolves when they have been transferred elsewhere to kill people.

So, could it be said that a community has now been found whose members would surely express—if they knew how to speak or write, say, on social media—their satisfaction with Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine? And who would support the continuation of the war forever, until the very last Russian soldier?

* * *

Today we also heard the news that Chinese soldiers have been fighting in Ukraine alongside Russian forces. It remains to be seen whether China will acknowledge this.

Similarly, it remains to be seen whether Donald Trump will ultimately dare to declare to Russia that the United States will support Ukraine as much as necessary — until the very last Russian soldier is either dead or has left Ukrainian soil. 

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Has President Trump Lost His Grip on Reality?

The further President Donald Trump's term has progressed, the more obvious it seems that he has lost his grip on reality. The latest sign of this was his demand that Europe should retroactively pay compensation to the USA for not being able to produce goods competitive on the European market (example).

It is clear that European countries will not agree to such extortion. Nor will they stop exporting goods to the U.S. if Americans wish to buy them.

In this respect, it will be particularly interesting to see how much Trump manages to reduce the sales of European products in the United States. One would assume that price increases of even tens of percentage points—caused by tariffs—would significantly reduce their sales. However, it is also true that, in a similar way, the sale of American products to Europe will become more difficult due to countertariffs.

Lately, I have begun to suspect that Trump does not genuinely understand this. And therefore, he does not realize he should stop before irreversible damage is done to European-American trade relations.

And that is why I believe he has lost his grip on reality.

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Iran Rejects Direct Nuclear Talks with U.S., Calls Them Pointless

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called direct nuclear negotiations with the U.S. "pointless" as Iran refused to engage in such talks with the United States.

This was a response to U.S. President Donald Trump, who had said on Thursday that he wanted to negotiate directly with Iran. According to Trump, the parties would understand each other better without intermediaries, allowing negotiations to progress more quickly.

According to Araghchi, it is futile to negotiate directly with a party that threatens violent actions and violates the UN Charter. The minister also said that U.S. officials present differing positions among themselves.

In addition, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran could only negotiate with the United States "on an equal footing." Iran has also denied accusations from the United States and Western countries regarding the development of nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear program is intended solely for civilian purposes.

It thus remains to be seen whether President Trump will succeed in enticing the Iranians to the negotiating table. However, it is already clear that if Israel has even the slightest suspicion that Iran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon, it would not hesitate to strike the mullah-led state with extreme force.

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Massive Blow to Russian Artillery: Ukraine Claims 1,644 Pieces Destroyed in March

According to Ukrainian sources, Zelensky’s army has deployed a new type of system consisting of 5 to 10 acoustic sensors placed at regular intervals along the front line. The microphones detect artillery fire originating from the same location and immediately guide Ukrainian artillery or drones to strike the target.

Using this equipment, Ukraine has claimed to have destroyed a total of 1,644 Russian artillery pieces during March, although this information cannot be independently verified. If — and hopefully when — this claim proves accurate, Russian forces will soon find themselves in serious trouble with their offensive. Even though warfare technology is advancing at a tremendous pace, artillery remains a crucial part of virtually every major operation, whether offensive or defensive.

Logically, this should lead to a rapid and significant shift in the situation at the front, but so far, I haven’t seen any news reporting such a change. We will have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks and months — and how it will affect the peace process initiated by President Donald Trump, which, so far, has only seen stalling tactics from the Russian side.

However, if the situation quickly turns in Ukraine’s favor, even Vladimir Putin might come to understand that a ceasefire would, in such circumstances, primarily serve the interests of his own army. At the same time, President Trump might realize that this would be the moment to push Russia toward a just peace — one in which the aggressor is left without any reward.

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Diplomacy Without Rituals: What Awaits as Finland’s Speaker Halla-aho Visits China?

As a well-known friend of Ukraine and a person fluent in the country's language, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Jussi Halla-aho (Finns Party), is traveling to China. The visit partly commemorates the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Finland and China.

However, the visit will also serve as an opportunity to discuss the bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries, as well as relations between the EU and China. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the relationship between China and the United States will undoubtedly also be topics of discussion.

Given Halla-aho’s significant role in shaping relations between Finland/the EU and Ukraine, it is likely that the issue of Ukraine will emerge as the most internationally significant topic. In this context, it is crucial to understand Halla-aho’s principled stance on all matters—that is, his refusal to engage in political rhetoric or platitudes.

Therefore, it is to be hoped that this quality is recognized and respected by the other true global superpower—China, alongside the United States. Furthermore, that his visit contributes to strengthening Ukraine’s position—and correspondingly weakening Russia’s position—in the dynamics of global power politics.

Alternatively, it is of course possible that the Chinese may not appreciate Halla-aho’s outspoken style, which could even strain relations between the host nation and Western European countries. For my part, however, I believe—and hope—that the Chinese will not fall into that trap, but rather, drawing on their millennia of experience, will be able to distinguish between empty bluster and the kind of fact-based, serious argumentation that is characteristic of Halla-aho.

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Why Finnish Youth Are Abandoning the Green Party

As my esteemed readers know, Europe is undergoing a major shift as the once-fashionable value-liberal trend is coming to an end. The clearest sign of this development occurred across the Atlantic, where power shifted from the Democrats to Donald Trump’s Republicans.

In Finland, this change has been reflected in the declining support for the Green movement in recent years. Since its inception, the party has been particularly popular among the youth, which has made it difficult for its support to fully materialize in elections. Nevertheless, just six years ago, it managed to secure 11.5% of the vote in the parliamentary elections—about two percentage points less than what opinion polls had predicted.

Less than a month ago, polls indicated that the party's support was hovering just below 10%, marking a roughly 25% drop compared to six years ago. Even more intriguing, however, was the so-called "youth election," in which those not yet eligible to vote could choose their preferred party.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Green party did not perform well; instead, its support remained at a modest 10.5%. In other words, the party is no longer more popular among young people than among the general population.

The phenomenon likely stems from Finnish youths’ concerns about their future. They see and experience firsthand that the Finnish education system no longer functions as it once did. Furthermore, the rapid accumulation of state and municipal debt—exacerbated by the previous red-green government—as well as the public sector’s increasing entanglement in identity politics, do nothing to advance Finland’s economy or secure a better future for young people.

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Economic Decline Awaits Americans as Trump Imposes Tariffs

Economists are quite unanimous in their view that tariffs hinder economic growth and overall welfare. They also agree that free trade and the removal of trade barriers boost economic growth.

These views stem from the fact that free trade lowers the prices of goods and services for both producers and consumers. Moreover, tariffs partly translate into higher prices, which negatively affect importers, exporters, and consumers alike.

This holds true even when tariffs are intended to protect a specific industry, as they inevitably increase production input costs and trigger retaliatory tariffs. Import tariffs can also harm domestic exporters by disrupting supply chains and raising their input costs.

In the long run, an even more harmful effect of tariffs is that they reduce competition between companies. As a result, businesses operating in tariff-protected markets become inefficient and less innovative, ultimately leading to difficulties—especially if the tariff barriers are later removed.

All of this seems to be entirely unknown to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is set to announce import tariffs on "all" trade partners today. This is despite the fact that the tariffs he imposed during his first term had a negative impact on American employment, as noted by Jyrki Ali-Yrkkö, Director of the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

Unfortunately, potential U.S. tariffs would have equally negative effects on America's trade partners. As a result, it won’t be just Americans who "enjoy" economic decline, but almost all nations across the world.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
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Xi Jinping and Donald Trump Agree on Cooperation to Bring Peace to Ukraine

According to newly released information, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last night (Finnish time) that he will assist Donald Trump in bringing peace to Ukraine. The agreement was reached yesterday in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

In practice, the agreement means providing military aid to the forces fighting in Ukraine to suppress the resistance of the persistently defiant enemy. The primary objective of the Chinese troops is to liberate Kursk and then proceed to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

To achieve this, Xi stated that he will send a well-equipped one-million-man contingent from the People's Liberation Army to Ukraine. The troops will be transported from Asia to Europe via continuous, non-stop rail convoys along the Trans-Siberian Railway, which will significantly disrupt Russia's domestic transportation for an extended period.

President Xi mentioned in Mar-a-Lago that he expects the first Chinese troops to reach the front within a week, at which point they will immediately commence the Kursk operation. From there, the Chinese army will advance into Ukraine, continuously reinforcing its ranks with the support of North Korean and Russian allies.

The ultimate goal is to replace the government led by Zelensky with a "peace administration," with which Putin can proceed with the arrangements necessary to incorporate Ukraine into Russia. As a token of gratitude for their assistance, the Chinese will be granted a 100-year exclusive right to the natural resources of southeastern Siberia, ensuring their self-sufficiency in raw materials for the foreseeable future.

At the press conference announcing this news, the U.S. president beamed like the sun as he declared that the agreement guarantees the achievement of peace. Additionally, he announced that he would soon travel to Norway to meet the king.

With this news, I wish you all, my esteemed readers, a delightful start to April!

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