How would Europe monitor a potential ceasefire in Ukraine?
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A 1,200-kilometer ceasefire line would require 150,000–200,000 soldiers, retired general and MEP Pekka Toveri told Helsingin Sanomat. Image: Dan Gustafsson / Yle
News about the US president scaling back American military involvement in Europe continues to dominate headlines in Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat’s most-read story is an interview with retired general and current MEP Pekka Toveri, who said that the West may have had too rosy a view of how well Ukraine could defend itself.
“Russian generals are extremely skilled at making optimal use of their poor tool [the armed forces],” he told HS.
The 1,200-kilometer ceasefire line would require 150,000–200,000 soldiers, who would also need to be rotated, meaning that in reality, three times that number of troops would be needed, according to Toveri.
“It would take over half a million soldiers. Can we find them in Europe? France, Britain, and Germany — the three largest— can’t even deploy a 20,000-man division. This is pretty challenging.”
Toveri said Europe lacks leadership. All European countries need to recognise that it’s in their interest the European pillar of Nato is built up as strongly and independently as possible, according to the MEP.
For a weekly roundup of the top stories from Finland, as well as an Yle Areena tip, sign up for Yle’s newsletter service with your Yle ID.
Trump tariffs and prices
Readers worried about their bottom line are also flocking to a story by tech publication Tivi which reports that US tariffs could push laptop prices up by 10 percent.
Electronics company Acer is one of the first technology firms to react to Trump’s tariffs, according to the tech publication.
Laptop prices could increase by up to 10 percent next month, at least in the United States, according to Jason Chen, CEO of the Taiwanese Acer.
Acer decided to raise its prices last week, with the changes set to take effect soon. This makes Acer one of the first tech companies to respond to Trump’s tariffs, while other industry giants have remained silent so far.
Thin ice
Finland’s ice ambassador said she’s scared to death someone will venture out on the ice outside of Helsinki.
Freezing temperatures, sunshine and southern Finland’s winter break are creating a potentially dangerous combination along the southern coast. That’s because the sea ice there is virtually nonexistent, according to Backman, who said fresh snow means people can easily miss weak spots in the ice.
Eva-Lotta Backman has served as the country’s official ice ambassador for the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation for the past two years.
“The ice is always changing. Even if it was safe yesterday, that doesn’t mean it’s safe today. Never step onto the ice just because you see footprints — they could be old,” Backman told Hufvudstadsbladet.
The All Points North podcast went ice swimming and nature walking to find the best ways to stay active during the long Finnish winter.
Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Are winter sports the secret hack to surviving Finnish winters?
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 23:19:00
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