Stubb Says Russian Threats Should Bring More Ukraine Support

October 3, 2026 at 08:02 AM1 min

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Friday that Russia's escalating hybrid campaign against Europe should trigger more support for Ukraine. Speaking at the Helsinki Security Forum, Stubb argued that Europe must view cyberattacks and sabotage as a coordinated campaign aimed at undermining support for Kyiv.

Key Facts

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Russia's hybrid campaign should lead to more support for Ukraine, not less.
Stubb spoke at the fifth annual Helsinki Security Forum, held Oct. 2–4 under the theme 'Layers of Security'.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu attended in person, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined remotely.
Stubb said Russia's campaign includes daily cyberattacks, sabotage attempts, and information warfare.
Stubb argued that Russia's invasion has already achieved the opposite of its objectives, making Ukraine European and prompting NATO enlargement.

Hybrid Campaign Warning

Stubb said Europe must stop viewing cyberattacks, sabotage, and information operations as isolated incidents. He described them as part of a Russian campaign aimed at destabilizing European societies and reducing support for Ukraine. Stubb pointed to recent incidents in Germany and Estonia attributed to Russia or Russian-linked actors. He said governments cannot fully protect themselves because Moscow frequently relies on proxies.

Response Strategy

Stubb argued that the answer lies in attribution, resilience, and consequences. Some responses can be public, while others should be delivered privately through diplomatic channels. The broader message to Moscow should remain unmistakable: increased pressure against Europe will translate into stronger backing for Kyiv.

Strategic Consequences

Stubb argued that Russia's full-scale invasion has already produced strategic consequences directly opposed to Moscow's original goals. He said the aim was to deny Ukraine's independence and make it Russian, but instead Ukraine became European. He also noted that the aim was to prevent NATO from enlarging, but the alliance has expanded.