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NATO leaders support Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone strikes against targets inside Russia, viewing them as a legitimate way to increase pressure on Moscow and push it toward peace negotiations, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in an interview with the Financial Times ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, UATV English reports.
“I think NATO leaders understand why Ukraine is doing this. Everyone believes we need to keep increasing the pressure,” Stubb said.
According to the Finnish president, despite concerns about possible nuclear escalation, Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign has already reshaped U.S. strategic thinking on the war and strengthened Kyiv’s negotiating position.
Stubb argued that Ukraine is now in a stronger military, political and financial position than before, with growing pressure beginning to affect Russia internally. He said Moscow is unlikely to end the war solely because of battlefield losses or economic decline, but rather when the consequences of the conflict become increasingly tangible for Russian society.
At the same time, Stubb warned that Europe must prepare for future Russian provocations, noting that Moscow is expected to rebuild its military capabilities, particularly in Northern Europe, once active fighting ends.
He also emphasized that integrating Ukraine’s defense industry with NATO partners represents the fastest path toward giving Ukraine a status as close as possible to Alliance membership while laying the groundwork for eventual accession.
“If I had the choice, Ukraine would join NATO immediately. But I realistically understand that this is not currently in the political plans. The key point is that NATO needs Ukraine just as much as Ukraine needs NATO,” Stubb said.
Highlighting Ukraine’s defense capabilities, the Finnish president said the country has developed drone and missile technologies that surpass those of most NATO members.
“They possess knowledge and capabilities in modern warfare that we simply do not have… When it comes to modern warfare capabilities, Ukraine is number one,” Stubb said.
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