We must respond to Russian imperialism with force - Finnish parliamentary speaker

This was reported by Espreso.

According to the Finnish speaker, Russia does not respect international law or its obligations. It does not value the lives of its own people or those of others. Russia believes that it has the right to veto the elections of its neighbours, the right to veto their existence. 

"Russia respects and understands force. Russian imperialism must be responded to with force," said Jussi Halla-aho.

He added that the torture of the Ukrainian military had awakened in Finland "painful memories of our own historical experience with our eastern neighbour".

"It was a great disappointment that despite all the naive optimism after the Cold War, the mentality of the character of the Russian state has not changed," the Finnish parliament speaker said.

• In September, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk presented Jussi Halla-aho with the Order of Yaroslav the Wise, second class, awarded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.