Finland's pro-NATO former PM said he was 'giving up hope' of joining the bloc, but now Putin has

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

done the job for him

Finland's former prime minister said he was giving up on his hope that Finland would join NATO, but Russian President Vladimir Putin achieved it by invading Ukraine.

Alexander Stubb, who was prime minister between 2014 and 2015, told Insider in a phone interview on Thursday that he had been an "advocate of Finnish NATO membership for the better part of 30 years."

But his views did not get majority support due to reasons like Finland's history with neutrality and the fear of retaliation from Russian.

That changed when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/finlands-pro-nato-former-pm-said-he-was-giving-up-hope-of-joining-the-bloc-but-now-putin-has-done-the-job-for-him/ar-AAWdIcr

Heckuva job Pooty Poot

[RKP5637]

1. Those not joining NATO are likely setting themselves up to be the next Ukraine IMO. n/t

[lagomorph777]

2. Yup - they'd better shake a leg, because the offer is invalid, once Poo Tin attacks.

[calimary]

3. Sure looks that way.

That's why I find myself wondering why Ukraine can't become a "Designated NATO Partner" or "NATO-Initiate" or something? "Pending NATO Member"? NATO Member-Nominee? "NATO Designate"? Shit, there are lots of ways we could label it, to call "DIBS!" and get the ball rolling on full membership! There's a list I saw that shows the NATO membership and when each country joined. There are several groups of "joinees" if you will. Several in 2004 and in other years. WHY couldn't Sweden, Finland, AND Ukraine be folded in, en groupe?

Just DO IT, DAMMIT!

[Hestia]

4. I think it was Chris Hayes who had a segment as to why UA* is not currently a NATO member

1. The biggest is Ukraine has/had a oligarchy problem of their own. It is why Selenskyy (you know, I've seen 3 different ways to spell his name - which is it really?) won the election.

2. Debt ration to income - of course, UA oligarchs stealing every dime from treasury that they could, just like in Russia/Soviet Union (since they want to go back to those days, call them what they are - USSR)

3. There is a 3rd reason, though I do forget what it is now. I'll probably remember tomorrow. (Maybe that NATO didn't want to piss off Putin/USSR?)

Ukraine of course has been pissed at being passed over all these years, especially after Montenegro was admitted and they had the same problems as UA. I think maybe that NATO/EU/US thought that Salenskyy would capitulate to Cult45/GQP & USSR/Putin over the Hunter Biden "problem." It appears that USSR & GQP were so pissed at Salenskyy for not giving them what they wanted that they had to come up with a reason - ANY reason - to invade UA.

*Ukraine's 2 letter alpha code is UA

Here is the European list for anyone who may be interested - https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=141329