Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine

Finland Threatens to Cut African Funding for Countries Supporting Russia

The new government formed by the Coalition Party and the True Finns, which won parliamentary elections in April, reportedly plans to cut aid to developing countries by about one billion euros.
Sputnik
Finland's new government intends to divert major aid flows to Ukraine and withdraw financial assistance from African countries that back Russia, Finnish media has claimed, citing incoming Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio.
"Countries supporting Russian military aggression against Ukraine may be deprived of aid... Some African countries have expressed their support for Russia. We will keep an eye on them," the statement said.
The new government is due to take office on Tuesday.
According to Tavio, Ukraine will be the main recipient of financial assistance as part of its program to emerging economies.
In addition, the new minister noted that Finland will have to find new partners for foreign trade in the coming years, as trade relations with Russia have collapsed.
"New partners should be found, let them be in America, Asia or India. Of course, trade within the EU will continue to be a priority," Tavio stressed.
The new minister comes from the True Finns Party, which came second in this year's parliamentary elections and won seven ministerial portfolios in the government.
The party has appointed Jussi Halla-aho as speaker of parliament. In January, the politician said that "anything that contributes to the killing of Russian soldiers is right and necessary".
Halla-aho's words were later condemned by True Finns leader Riikka Purra, calling his remarks about Russian soldiers wrong and inappropriate.
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Which Countries Are Sending Weapons to Ukraine?
Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
President Vladimir Putin described its purpose as "protecting people who have been subjected to torture, genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years".
To this end, he said, there are plans to "demilitarize and denationalize Ukraine" and to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for "bloody crimes against civilians".