Winter-tested Finns want to train Ukrainian soldiers BAG reports: 19,073 new corona cases ++ In hospital: 369 ++ 20 new deaths

Niniistö attended field exercises of the Finnish army on Tuesday. On the side, he then told reporters that Finland would be able to support Ukraine not only with material, but also with the necessary training, as reported by Newsweek magazine. “Of course training on these devices can be very useful,” said Niinistö on Tuesday, “we know how to use them”.

The Finnish president offered support to Ukrainians in view of the coming winter. It is unclear how this will affect the course of the war. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned again on Tuesday that Russia could use winter as a weapon and intensify attacks on energy supplies as battlefield successes fail to materialise.

The Russians have repeatedly bombed Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in recent weeks, leaving Ukrainian households without running water, electricity and heating. Winter can be particularly devastating for the civilian population of Ukraine because of the cold. Kiev mayor Vitali Klitschko recently warned that Ukraine is facing “the worst winter since World War II”.

Finland, like other European and NATO countries, has supplied Ukraine with war material. Finland has a special relationship with Russia as it shares more than 1000 kilometers of border with the neighboring country. Finland was also part of the Soviet Union until 1917 before gaining independence. In the Second World War, the Soviet Union attacked Finland in the so-called Winter War – despite a clear numerical minority, the Finns were able to put up a fierce resistance in the Finnish forests thanks to a good strategy.

As a result of the attack on Ukraine, fears arose in Finland that Russia could attack the country. That is why, contrary to popular belief, Finland and Sweden have decided to join NATO. However, the accession has been postponed because Turkish President Erdoğan vetoed it. Niniistö also said on Tuesday that he expects the accession to take longer. (con)