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We watched hours of broadcasts on Russian networks and spoke with expert fact checkers to understand how Russia is spinning the war it started in Ukraine.

INSIDERINSIDER
Alexander Stubb attends a press breefing at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, October 2, 2018.
Alexander Stubb at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.REUTERS/Vincent Kessler
  • The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has led to the country joining NATO.

  • Alexander Stubb said he was giving up hope that his country would join.

  • You know, Putin has only himself to thank. Stubb told Insider that he should be grateful to Putin.

The former prime minister ofFinland said he was giving up on his hope that his country would join NATO, but Russian President Vladimir Putin achieved it.

Alexander Stubb told Insider in a phone interview that he had been an advocate of NATO membership for 30 years.

His views did not get the majority support due to reasons such as the fear of Russian retaliation and the history of neutrality in Finland.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

'Grateful' to Putin

Stubb said that the idea of joining NATO did not have majority support in Finland before the invasion, but that changed after the attack on Ukraine.

A young kid gives an offering of food to his mother grave as his younger brother and a neighbor stand next to it, in the town of Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, after the Ukrainian army secured the area following the withdrawal of the Russian army from the Kyiv region on previous days, Bucha, Ukraine, April 4th, 2022.
A child gives an offering of food to his mother's grave in the Ukrainian town of Bucha on April 4, 2022, after Russian troops withdrew.Photo by Narciso Contreras/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

You know, Putin has only himself to thank. He said that he should be grateful for Putin's support of NATO membership.

On the 24th of February, everything changed, and Putin is to be thanked.

Stubb believes that joining NATO will increase the security of the country.

Putin 'has made Russia weak again'

Stubb said that the decision to invade Ukraine was motivated by the desire of Putin to restore Soviet glory and weaken Western alliances like NATO and the European Union.

The invasion was framed by Putin as a response to NATO expanding eastward as well as the false belief that Ukraine is not a real country.

Vladimir Putin seen at a pro-war rally in Moscow on Friday, March 18.
Vladimir Putin seen at a pro-war rally in Moscow on Friday, March 18, 2022.Kremlin Press Office / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Putin wanted to stop Sweden from joining NATO. Stubb said that they will now because of his actions. Sweden is considering joining the alliance.

He has made Russia weak again and will go down in history as one of the biggest failures of Russian leadership.

Finland is close to joining NATO

Prime Minister Sanna Marin said that the decision on whether to join would be made within weeks.

Finish Prime Minister Sanna Mirella Marin arrives for an EU Summit on July 17, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.
Finish Prime Minister Sanna Mirella Marin arrives for an EU Summit on July 17, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.Photo by Pool/Getty Images

Stubb said that the invasion meant that Finland had to think about being a neighbor to Russia.

Stubb believed that joining NATO would bolster the country's security.

He said that people felt that they never want to be left alone again, as they were in World War II.

Finnish troops wearing their white tunics over their uniforms as camouflage
Finnish troops wearing their white tunics over their uniforms as camouflage in the snow go forward to reinforce the army facing the Russian forces, in southern Finland, Dec. 14, 1939.AP Photo

Stubb said that the fight against Russia can no longer be kept out of military alliances, as the fight now involves energy and the economy.

It sounds like a nice idea. There are times when reality and idealism meet. He said that this is one of those moments.

Stubb said he didn't think people were panicked in wanting to join NATO, but that they were motivated by irrational fear.

I think the logical conclusion is that if Putin slaughters his Slavic brothers, sisters, and cousins in Ukraine, then he can do it in Finland as well.

Stubb said the country is well prepared for any attack after Russia threatened to retaliate if it joined NATO.

The original article is on Business Insider.

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