“A big and powerful neighbor has the right to limit the sovereignty of the small one, to interfere in its foreign and even domestic policy. It sounds very rude and contrary to the norms of international law. the beginning of war.” Idea.
“You’re in Kiev, forget about integration into Europe, especially NATO, because Moscow doesn’t like it. Otherwise it’s war.”
The End of Finland
In 1939, Moscow decided to dictate to the Finnish capital the place where it should move the borders of its state, as it wished, otherwise there would be war. In fact, even this aggressive and arrogant demand was only a veil of the Kremlin’s real, even more arrogant and aggressive aims.
In August 1939, the USSR and Nazi Germany entered into an agreement in which both totalitarian regimes divided Europe into spheres of influence. Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland fell under the USSR. In the first three Baltic states, the Kremlin quickly brought the people it needed to power, which led to the dissolution of their independence, their entry into the Union, and subsequent crackdowns against all dissidents.
A similar scenario was obviously being prepared for the Finns, and the demands for borders were just an excuse. Helsinki’s refusal to comply with them marked the beginning of the war. A hybrid one, of course, where the ones who show aggression are the bad Finns. But there were also good Finns, forming the Finnish Democratic Republic, who signed a cooperation agreement with the USSR and called on the Red Army to help. However, the technology that had worked since the time of the war against UNR did not work this time.
Important
The great invasion began on November 30, 1939. In all respects the balance of power (number of troops, pieces of equipment) seemed hopeless for Finland and convinced the command of the Red Army that capitulation would be the perfect gift to the people’s leader, Stalin, on his 60th birthday – December 21. did not take into account the factor – the will of the Finns to fight. At the heart of this will is a developed national consciousness that unites Finnish citizens to protect their state.
Soldiers and partisans brutally defeated the invaders. Tactics of destroying mechanized columns (disable the first and last vehicles, then already immobilize the rest) became a classic, later used from the UPA to the Afghan Mujahideen and now used in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The attack was quickly blocked and winter came to the aid of the defenders, freezing the thousands of invaders unprepared for a long struggle.
The Finns withstood the first blow but unfortunately did not get the help they needed from the West. Because of this, the Soviets managed to get past their defenses, eventually forcing them to negotiate and sign a peace treaty. Finland lost 10% of its territory, but did not become a Soviet republic. The cost of this dubious victory for the USSR was very high – about 130 thousand people died, which is 5 times more than the losses of the defenders. And most importantly, the Winter War showed the weakness of the Red Army to the whole world.
Later, after the Second World War, the USSR, as a victor, imposed restrictions on the Finns in foreign policy; the essence of it was that their states could not enter into alliances that would not have Moscow’s consent. Thus, Helsinki was not turned into a communist satellite like the People’s Republic of Poland, and even though it was not included in the USSR, it was forced into a neutral status during the Cold War.
Important
Now it is such restrictions that a strong power makes on the foreign policy of a weaker country, called Finnishization. This is what the Kremlin allegedly demanded from Ukraine before the big invasion on February 24. But we know very well what any deal with Russia can cost the Ukrainians. We remember that for the Kremlin, the return of Ukraine was the main condition for the restoration of the empire. Because Ukraine is at war. Longer than the Finns in the Winter War with the USSR, which already lasted 104 days. The balance of power (people, weapons, territory) in our war is much better for us than for the Finns. Finally, we began to receive the necessary military aid from the West. And most importantly, our perseverance in this war is no less than that of the Finns during the Winter War. Ukrainians have shown the whole world the unfoundedness of Russia’s claims to the title of the world’s second army and subsequently to the role of a global power that everyone should reckon with.
Finally, this is how we ushered in the end of Finland’s Finnishisation. On May 12, 2022, President Sauli Niiniste of this state and Prime Minister Sanna Marin issued a joint statement that the country would immediately apply to join NATO. The Russian Empire is losing influence, retreating and will surely disappear from the world map.
PS. Finland became a member of NATO.
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.