Ville Niinistö
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · FI
“Every Russian athlete in Russia is forced to support the regime – many willingly and many financed by the state and spreading its lies. Putin has a long history of playing with false propaganda, and we cannot allow it to have any room.”
“Madam President, Putin and Russia use every inch of conciliation from the international community as a weapon to claim legitimacy for their lies and brutal violations of international law. This cannot be tolerated.”
“No one asks you to agree with them, but the point of your job is to keep diplomatic contact. What is the point of you being the Chair of the delegation to Russia if you decline to speak with the Russian Parliament or Government? Do you sincerely believe your approach serves the best interests of European citizens?”
“We cannot tolerate that happening and there is no point negotiating or discussing with a partner that uses every move from our side to move to their direction, to enforce their propaganda, to work more against us. So the only thing where we need Putin to talk is to give up his war on Ukraine.”
“Mr President, President Trump is jeopardising much with his illegal war on Iran. Russia is gaining billions of euro every week with the freeze of American oil sanctions, while Ukraine is missing out on weapons support that is being used in the Gulf.”
“Thirdly, we also must be prepared, in a continued price hike, to tax windfall profits. That income can then be used to support citizens and businesses that are most vulnerable. But we cannot meddle with the market mechanism by supporting fossil fuels, because that would only prolong the dependency.”
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Every one of 29 lines we hold for Ville Niinistö, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“We cannot tolerate that happening and there is no point negotiating or discussing with a partner that uses every move from our side to move to their direction, to enforce their propaganda, to work more against us. So the only thing where we need Putin to talk is to give up his war on Ukraine. And it's the Ukrainians that need to do the talking. 3-0422-0000”
“No one asks you to agree with them, but the point of your job is to keep diplomatic contact. What is the point of you being the Chair of the delegation to Russia if you decline to speak with the Russian Parliament or Government? Do you sincerely believe your approach serves the best interests of European citizens? 3-0421-0000 Ville Niinistö (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – The European Parliament stands firm. Since 2014, after the illegal annexation of Crimea, the European Parliament has frozen any contact with Russian state actors. And that is the correct thing to do. Russia has violated international law within Europe, within our neighbourhood, and they are threatening also EU Member States by different hybrid attacks.”
“Every Russian athlete in Russia is forced to support the regime – many willingly and many financed by the state and spreading its lies. Putin has a long history of playing with false propaganda, and we cannot allow it to have any room. We must stand strong in support of Ukraine, and the pressure must be where it should be – on stopping Putin's brutal war. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0420-0000 Ondřej Dostál (NI), blue-card question. – Madam President, honourable colleague Niinistö, you are the Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee. For the United States, Witkoff communicates with Russia; Trump communicates with Russia; Indians, Turks, Gulf states, Israelis, Pakistanis communicate with Russia. But you chose not to communicate with Russia.”
“Madam President, Putin and Russia use every inch of conciliation from the international community as a weapon to claim legitimacy for their lies and brutal violations of international law. This cannot be tolerated. There cannot be any normalisation or even talking with Russia, as long as they are not ready to take responsibility for their war crimes and stop their brutal war on Ukraine. We cannot be naive in Europe or we are played as fools. Being weak is fuel for Putin's war. Sports or cultural events are for Russia one key tool for achieving international legitimacy and spreading propaganda. It is not about innocent individuals participating. It is about state-sponsored participation under the Russian flag and corruption promoting the power of Putin's regime.”
“Thirdly, we also must be prepared, in a continued price hike, to tax windfall profits. That income can then be used to support citizens and businesses that are most vulnerable. But we cannot meddle with the market mechanism by supporting fossil fuels, because that would only prolong the dependency. Energy independence is the way out of the crisis. 1-0073-0000”
“Mr President, President Trump is jeopardising much with his illegal war on Iran. Russia is gaining billions of euro every week with the freeze of American oil sanctions, while Ukraine is missing out on weapons support that is being used in the Gulf. Now, we are also facing a huge risk of a global recession due to the fossil energy price hike with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. First of all, we all need to remember that first we need to convince the Americans to de-escalate and normalise the trade supply in the Gulf. Secondly, we in Europe must reinforce the green energy transition. Wind and solar cannot be stopped at the Strait of Hormuz. Electrification, grid investments, energy efficiency and energy savings must be encouraged. Member States that are furthest in the transition feel the least of this shock.”
“Distributed energy is very smart in these geopolitical times. So now we must make sure that we can deliver this package really to help Europeans in the energy transition and also to lower the costs. 2-0342-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, Europe's energy debate has recently focused much on industry and infrastructure. These things matter, but the energy transition will ultimately succeed or fail with our citizens. So that is why the Citizens' Energy Package is an important shift, which we Greens have expected and which we also applaud. If we want public support for the transition, people must not only pay the costs, they must also receive the benefits. Today, millions of Europeans still struggle with energy bills and yet households producing their own solar energy can save up to EUR 260 to EUR 550 per year. And participation in energy communities can increase these savings to almost EUR 1 000 a year. Our energy policy is not only climate policy; it is also affordability policy, it is inclusiveness and it is also resilience.”
“The question now is not only what is happening in Ukraine, it's also what is happening to us, because integrity demands resilience. In Finland, today marks the day when my own country has been independent for a longer time than it was under the yoke of the Russian Empire before that. We understand what Ukraine is going through. The whole of Europe must understand it. We must stand united in support of Ukraine. Ukraine must prevail! 1-0041-0000”
“Madam President, for four years now, Russia's full-scale war has continued. Over the years, something has changed – not only in Ukraine, but also here in Europe. When the war started, we pledged our support for as long as it takes. It has truly taken long. What was once shocking has become too much like a routine. Atrocious Russian missile strikes against civilians are no longer headline news. Russia is trying to freeze Ukrainians in their homes by striking energy facilities, and Russian war crimes pile after each other. Putin's war does not become less brutal just because some grow tired of hearing about it. It does not become less brutal just because some appeasers here are ready to abandon Ukraine. Appeasing Putin does not give peace; it leads to more atrocities. This winter has been Ukraine's hardest.”
“At the same time, there are areas where we can increase cooperation and the Parliament is pushing for that. More linkages between our ETS and CBAM with the UK, our cooperation in the energy market, and a common SPS are possibilities where we can work together. Workers and young people must be at the centre. Cooperation must be used to make sure that fair conditions for cross-border workers are being enshrined and we are building on youth mobility. Finally, it is also important that security and defence cooperation is the area where we can actually build a new strategic structural cooperation and that opportunity must be used for the future of Europe and for the future of democracy. 3-0315-0000”
“Madam President, in the current geopolitical climate, it is obvious that we have to strengthen our relationship with the UK. It is a relationship that must be built on trust. We have much in common and we should build on that. Our partnership with the UK only works if every word of the Withdrawal Agreement, the TCA and the Windsor Framework is fully and faithfully implemented, especially to protect the Good Friday Agreement and citizens' rights. It is important to work on playing on a level playing field, not a race to the bottom. The TCA is built on strong level-playing-field rules, whether on climate, environment, workers' rights, State aid and tax transparency. Any new UK trade deals or regulatory divergence must not undercut those standards or leak pressure into the single market.”
“Permanently banning also the imports of Russian gas and other fossil fuels must be finalised in the trilogues for the REPowerEU proposal next week. Sanctions must also be strengthened. Russia and its economy is reeling, so we must continue to push for support for Ukraine in order to achieve a just and lasting peace. That means justice also for the kidnapped children, it means sovereignty for Ukraine, it means respect for international law, and it means also that you must pay for war crimes that you have done. Never reward aggression. We can still achieve this peace, but only if we in Europe are all united in support of Ukraine. 3-0045-0000”
“Mr President, Ukraine needs Europe now more than ever. We must deliver. Last week, one thing became obviously clear: a US Government that is not ready to protect democratic values within its own country cannot be trusted to protect these values abroad. It is a task we must bear in Europe. Ukraine needs a Europe that is united in its support, and Russian authoritarian imperialism and its war policy cannot be allowed to succeed. A capitulation or a forced peace on their terms would only increase the risk to democracy and the risk of future wars in Europe – not just for Ukraine, but for all of us. Europe must increase its military and diplomatic support to Ukraine. The decision on the EUR 140 billion reparations loan to Ukraine, with the backing of Russia's frozen assets, must be made in the coming weeks.”
“The frozen assets themselves are still waiting there for that process; the ownership of the money has not changed. Now let us deliver for Ukraine: step up defence support, accelerate reconstruction and hold Russia accountable, and ensure Europe's values and security. Stand firm. 2-0470-0000”
“Madam President, Russia's war didn't just attack Ukraine, it attacked the future of European democracy and the rules‑based international order. Russia has committed atrocious war crimes one after another – stealing children, using all kinds of violence against Ukrainian civilians, including systematic torture, rape and bombing of civilian targets. Justice demands that the aggressor pays for its crimes. The European Commission's reparations loan up to EUR 140 billion, backed by the Russian frozen assets in Europe, is a concrete change Ukraine needs now. We must ensure legal clarity but not hide truth and justice behind excuses. The reparation loan is a down payment of reparations that Russia must pay based on an international tribunal.”
“Samalla Venäjän vastaisia pakotteita maailmalla on kiristettävä laajalla yhteistyöllä. Venäjän uhka siis torjutaan määrätietoisella toiminnalla, ja olennaista on se, että aloite pidetään meillä. 3-0107-0000”
“Humanitaarisen avun on päästävä Gazaan täysimääräisesti ja vakiintuneiden kansainvälisten toimijoiden kautta. Asekauppa Israelin kanssa on lopetettava, EU:n tulee kohdistaa merkittäviä pakotteita Israelille ja kansanmurhaa edistäville päättäjille ja EU:n ja Israelin välinen assosiaatiosopimus on jäähdytettävä. Gazan lapsilla on oikeus elää. 3-0178-0000”
“We need to mainly support Ukraine and stockpile our own reserves, and that means priority orders and not to give grants to an already lucrative industry in sales to dubious third countries, and not to spend at the cost of spending cuts on the welfare of our citizens. We need to base the spending on defence, on our European values. For those are the values that we want to protect. 3-0094-0000”
“Mr President, looking at the NATO summit from Finland that has over 1300 km of border with Russia, it is a no brainer to support the 3.5 % target on actual core military spending. NATO stands at a turning point and we Greens support credible deterrence, but it must be strategic and accountable. And the EU has a vital role in this. The EU can make sure that the added spending is mainly focussed on joint capabilities that EU‑NATO countries have the capability also to act alone without the support of the US. This is necessary to negate the threat of Russia. The EU can also make sure that much more is spent on European defence industry and on joint procurement.”
“We must demand full humanitarian access to Red Cross, we must increase sanctions, and we must hold Putin accountable also to the war crimes in the special tribunal, in the Council of Europe and in the ICC. 1-0130-0000”
“Madam President, an essential part of Russian warfare in Ukraine is war of terror against civilians. Use of rape, torture, detentions illegally and illegal deportations of children are a big part of Russian warfare. This is systematic. Russian propaganda tries to dehumanise Ukrainians. They try to strip their nationhood and they try to strip their identity. This is part of Putin's imperialism that must be held accountable. Total civilian casualties since February 2022 stand at 13 134 deaths and nearly 32 000 injured, as per the UN. Over 19 500 children have been deported and 16 000 Ukrainian civilians remain illegally detained by Russia, subject to torture and mock trials. We must demand immediate, unconditional release of all civilians and POWs, including the children.”
“Tällä päätöksellä ja näillä esityksillä komissio, EU ja parlamentti varmistavat, että emme enää anna Putinille tätä valtaa. Se on askel myös siihen, että Ukraina voi puolustaa maataan ja että Eurooppa voi tehdä siirtymän kestäviin energiaratkaisuihin. Tuemme tässä komissiota täysin. 1-0286-0000”
“Arvoisa puhemies, komission jäsen, Putinin valta seisoo fossiilienergian viennin ja siitä saatujen tulojen varassa. Kaasu ja öljy rasvaavat Venäjän sotatalouden rattaita, ja sietämätöntä on, että Eurooppa on nämä viime vuodet, Venäjän hyökkäyksen jälkeenkin, jatkanut Venäjän sotatalouden rahoittamista ostamalla Venäjältä fossiilienergiaa. Kiitän komissiota, että nyt vihdoin tulee selkeys siitä, että lainsäädäntökeinoin varmistetaan, että luovumme Venäjän fossiilienergian tuonnista kokonaan. Kiitän myös siitä, että uraanin tuonti on huomioitu tässä myös ydinpolttoaineen osalta. On erittäin tärkeää tunnistaa se, että koko 2000-luvun energia on ollut Venäjälle geopolitiikan väline, jolla se kiristää, hyödyntää ja huijaa kumppanimaitaan sitoutumaan siihen niin, että Venäjän sotapolitiikka on saanut enemmän ja enemmän jalansijaa.”
“Mutta meillä on silti niitä ääniä, kuten Naton pääsihteerillä Mark Ruttella ja monilla poliittisessa oikeistossa, jotka näkevät, että nyt pitää panostaa puolustukseen ja samalla pitäisi leikata sosiaaliturvasta tai eläkkeistä. Tälle on selkeästi sanottava ei. Hyvinvointivaltio ja tasa-arvoiset mahdollisuudet kouluttautua ja pärjätä työelämässä luovat myös sitä pohjaa, jossa ihmisillä on medialukutaitoa ja uskoa tulevaisuuteen. Ja silloin yhteiskuntamme on myös resilientti ja valmis erilaisiin kriiseihin. Siksi valmiudessa on kysymys ihmisten tasa-arvosta. 2-0333-0000”
“By this paper – and I urge you, Commissioner, to be very strong and ambitious – we show that Europe is united, that we can invest in defence, we can create military capabilities where Europe is united and can also act alone without the support of the United States. And that is something that negates the threat of Russia and protects democracy and peace in Europe – that is what we must achieve. 2-0390-0000”
“Mr President, coming from a country that shares 1 300 kilometres of border with Russia and a country that has had over 50 wars or border skirmishes with Russia in its history, I must say to you that we must show respect to Ukraine that is protecting democracy today, every day, with their lives. This is not a theoretical discussion about where Europe shall head. This is a very serious discussion about how we can protect the international rules-based order, the national sovereignty of countries, and the right of countries to determine their own fate. Russia and Putin do not believe in that. They want their empire, they want their sphere of influence, and they are building a war economy that is threatening Europe, but also countries outside of the EU.”
“When we do more investments in renewable and energy efficiency, we get industrial production that's more competitive in the global market that has an increasing demand. So we have to make sure that we support the taxonomy, for example, to get more investment into Europe and not create confusion by the omnibus discussion. 3-0232-0000”
“Mr President, where does industrial competitiveness come from? It comes from productivity. And where does productivity come from? Well, it comes from increasing the added value of our production chains and from technological leaderships. I think it is important that the Commission stops this kind of paradoxical view that at the same time the Commission says that the 90 % climate target is important, we are decarbonising our economy, we are going forward in combining the green and competitive angles of our future. They need to be seen together, but there is still also this other underlying discussion whether we actually should have less focus on greening our economies. We should really be clear that that means that we have less competitive future. Investing in green technologies, in lead markets, in R&I is what Europe needs to do more.”