'We will survive Russia's blackmail and the long winter, but we need unity,' Sanna Marin tells MEPs
The European Union will survive "Russia's blackmail" of energy supplies and the looming "long winter" but only if the bloc maintains its "unity, determination and courage," said Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
"Russia may challenge us, blackmail us and threaten us, but we will not give in," she told the European Parliament in Strasbourg, speaking in Finnish.
"Russia's actions have unified the West as never before, while Russia is lonelier than ever."
During her speech before the plenary, Marin painted a grim picture of the challenges the EU faces, including the Ukraine war, the worsening energy crisis, soaring inflation, an increasingly likely recession, strained public finances, natural disasters, democratic backsliding and the technological rise of authoritarian countries.
"However, even in the darkest moments there is hope," she noted.
"Ukraine will win the war with our support. There is no other alternative. In our hearts, the Ukrainians have already won it."
Marin said the EU's greatest strength – and the only way out of the overlapping crises – was the mutual trust and unity among its 27 member states.
"Blackmailing our societies through energy supply is a way to erode European support for Ukraine and break down our unity. Putin must not succeed in this," she said.
"With its war, Russia is destroying its economy and future. Russia has broken our trust. Even if the war ended today, our confidence would not be restored for a long time."
Since the war broke out in late February, Marin has taken a hard line against the Kremlin, calling for sanctions and a speedy transition away from Russian fossil fuels.
Marin has also led Finland's bid to join NATO, a process that, once completed, will redraw the alliance's map.
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