Sinikukka Saari

Eurooppalaiset johtajat ovat nyt laittaneet arvovaltansa peliin, jotta Ukraina-neuvotteluissa päästäisiin eteenpäin. Tavoite on ihailtava, mutta rakennelma on hutera. Putinilla on epäilemättä houkutus vetää matto Euroopan toimijuuden alta.

As a result of a russian missile strike on Izium, 5 civilians were killed. 24 people were hospitalized, 3 of them in critical condition. Among the injured are 2 girls, aged 6 and 16.

Viime viikolla minulla oli kunnia osallistua US European Commandin järjestämään konferenssiin Ramsteinin lentotukikohdassa. Tutkijapaneelimme keskittyi Venäjän kumppanuuksien uhka-arvioon. Yleisönä oli yli 500 sotilasta, ml. SACEUR ja SACT. Kuntosalillekin pääsin!

Finland Seizes Ship After Undersea Power Cable to Estonia Is Cut Finland seized an oil tanker after the latest in a series of disruptions to undersea infrastructure.

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/w...

The EU should act now to sanction the violent regime in Georgia Where is the geopolitical EU that understands the importance of its neighbours? ask a group of European foreign policy experts.

Together with colleagues on the absolute urgency for the EU to respond decisively against the GD government and in support of society to the escalating violence in Georgia www.euractiv.com/section/glob...

Taking the Pulse: Are Information Operations Russia’s Most Potent Weapon Against Europe? Moscow has been dialing up its hybrid attacks on European democracies. Are information operations the most effective tool in Russia’s arsenal—and how can European governments and societies fight back?

CEIP’s Rym Momtaz took the pulse & experts responded. I argue that Russia’s recent successes in disinfo are more a sign of our weakness than of Russia’s all-mightiness in information warefare. A good round-up!

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Uusi Maanpuolustuksen tieteellinen neuvottelukunta on asetettu - Valtioneuvosto

Valtioneuvosto on vahvistanut Maanpuolustuksen tieteellisen neuvottelukunnan jäsenet seuraavaksi kaudeksi. Olen iloinen ja otettu, että myös oma nimeni löytyy jäsenlistalta! MATINE edistää maanpuolustukseen liittyvää tutkimustoimintaa ja yhteistyötä tiedeyhteisön ja puolustushallinnon välillä.

Uusi tutkimuskonsortio keskittyy liberaalin demokratian haasteisiin | FIIA – Finnish Institute of International Affairs Strategisen tutkimuksen neuvoston on myöntänyt uudelle hankkeelle The resilience of liberal democracy in Finland (RESLIDE) lähes kolmen miljoonan euron rahoituksen ajalle 1.12.2024-30.11.2027.

Hienoja uutisia! Upi on mukana kahdessa projektissa, joille @Akatemia_STN myönsi rahoituksen. Itse osallistun projektiin, joka keskittyy liberaalin demokratian haasteisiin. Tärkeä & ajankohtainen aihe, myös kansainvälisellä tasolla. www.fiia.fi/ajankohtaist...

Timely analysis by @alanderminna.bsky.social Paper cuts, cable cuts - tomayto, tomahto…

Germany and Finland ‘deeply concerned’ about severed undersea cable Foreign ministers do not rule out sabotage as part of Russia’s ‘hybrid warfare’

”Germany and Finland have said they are “deeply concerned” about a severed undersea communications cable between the two countries, saying that it raised suspicions of possible Russian sabotage” www.ft.com/content/a160...

FIIA Snapshots | FIIA – Finnish Institute of International Affairs The return of Donald Trump as President of the United States has been received with a mixture of acute trepidation and wild excitement. Regardless of what one thinks about Trump in political terms…

My FIIA snapshot argues that Trump’s ”Peace through the Deal” policy is risky for Ukraine and for Europe, too. To reduce the risks, we should anticipate & accept burden shifting on Ukraine towards Europe. We need realism on Trump, not ”sanewashing”. www.fiia.fi/en/news/fiia...

Deterring Russia in Ukraine: The only way to sustainable peace | FIIA In principle, peace negotiations are always preferable to fighting, but Europe needs to acknowledge that Russia uses peace processes to perpetuate war.

We need realism, not wishful thinking. Russia exploits peace processes to solidify the gains made during military offensives and would continue its aggression after restoring its capabilities. Only credible security quarantees to Ukraine could break this destructive pattern.

EU-China relations in an uncertain world | FIIA The EU’s approach towards China has shifted from overconfidence in European normative power to an embrace of unconditional economic engagement with China.

EU-China relations is like walking a geopolitical tightrope. Without belittling the challenges, we argue that a cool head, determined steady steps and clear communication on priorities is the way forward. Thanks FIIA team!