Petri Hakkarainen
ON THE RECORD · 8 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“Listen to our analysis of the situation: We consider Russia to be a long-term threat to transatlantic security — not only to Ukraine, not only to Europeans, but to transatlantic security as a whole.”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen stated that Finland considers Russia a long-term threat to transatlantic security.
“We take our security and preparedness very seriously.”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen stressed that Finland takes its security and preparedness seriously.
“Basically pushing migrants towards our borders, forcing us then to take them on.”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen explained that Russia was pushing migrants toward Finland's borders, forcing the country to take them in.
“I would say not despite that, but because of that, we are able to lead very normal lives here — regardless of the neighbor we have.”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen said Finland's serious approach to security is what allows its people to lead normal lives despite having Russia as a neighbor.
“We think it's important to listen to those of us who live next door to Russia,”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen urged Western nations to listen to countries that share a border with Russia.
“We take these concerns very seriously,”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen addressed concerns over potential human rights and international law violations raised by the Border Security Act.
“But national security and our own sovereignty ... weighed more heavily in this conversation, though there is broad majority support for the act.”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen emphasized that national security and sovereignty outweighed concerns about the Border Security Act, which has broad majority support.
“We have in the past witnessed Russia's attempts … to instrumentalize migrants at the Finnish border,”
Petri Hakkarainen · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-17
Hakkarainen described Russia's past attempts to instrumentalize migrants at the Finnish border by pushing them toward Finland.