Finnish PM’S offer of jets ‘not discussed’ with government

SANNA MARIN, the prime minister of Finland, has been accused of offering fighter jets to Ukraine without first discussing it with the government, the president or military.

Ms Marin, who faces elections next month, suggested Finland could donate the planes on a surprise trip to Kyiv.

The centre-left politician was criticised for ignoring a constitutional obligation to consult on foreign policy and security matters and making the visit so close to the April 2 vote.

In Ukraine, Ms Marin said Finland could donate some of its 62 F/A-18 Hornet fighters, which will soon be replaced by 64 F-35A jets.

“The discussions are in the very early stages,” Ms Marin said, as she raised Ukrainian hopes that Volodymyr Zelensky’s demands for jets from the West could be met.

But Sauli Niinistö , Finland’s president, told the Finnish News Agency there “has been no discussion with anyone”. The comments also surprised the heads of the defence committee and foreign affairs committee, Finnish media reported.

Major General Juha-pekka Keränen, the air force commander, told the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper the plans had not been discussed with the military. He said the jets would be needed until new F-35s were ready in about 2030.

Finland, which borders Russia, decided to ditch decades of non-alignment to apply to join Nato after Vladimir Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine. Ms Marin, 37, is one of Putin’s fiercest critics in the EU, and is being tipped as a possible candidate for the next European Commission president. Polls have shown she is the most popular prime minister in 30 years but her Social Democrats are trailing the centre-right National Coalition Party.