Pekka Toveri
Member of the European Parliament · PPE · FI
“Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, this motion for EU Parliament resolution is a very good paper. It lists carefully most of the Russia's heinous crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians. It also delivers a very comprehensive list of actions that EU and EU Member States should take to support Ukraine and punish Russia.”
“As this Parliament report states: we need a comprehensive, long-term strategic approach to support Ukraine, not just ad hoc assistance – a strategy that tells Russia that it has already lost. This paper tells us the tools, now the Commission and the Council need to make a real comprehensive strategic plan. Slava Ukraini! 2-0379-0000”
“Madam President, Madam High Representative, dear colleagues, the US decision to stop the rotation of US army brigade to Poland became a surprise. Typically for the Trump administration, it seemed to be a surprise even to the US army and the Congress.”
“Europe can defend itself without the United States. Let us concentrate on getting our forces combat ready, reinforce them, and build independent European joint capabilities to enable our defence. It will take years, but the sooner and faster we act, the sooner it will be ready.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, ensuring accountability and justice after over four years of Russia's relentless attacks against civilians in Ukraine is extremely important.”
“Madam President, colleagues, the report on the European flagship defence project is a good analysis of the many ways to improve our defence industry and defence capabilities.”
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Every one of 32 lines we hold for Pekka Toveri, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“As this Parliament report states: we need a comprehensive, long-term strategic approach to support Ukraine, not just ad hoc assistance – a strategy that tells Russia that it has already lost. This paper tells us the tools, now the Commission and the Council need to make a real comprehensive strategic plan. Slava Ukraini! 2-0379-0000”
“Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, this motion for EU Parliament resolution is a very good paper. It lists carefully most of the Russia's heinous crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians. It also delivers a very comprehensive list of actions that EU and EU Member States should take to support Ukraine and punish Russia. In the end, the ESN Group gives its minority position to the Commission report. Most of the position is used for Putin-supporting nonsense that we are used to await from the ESN. However, there is one point where I must agree – ESN opposes the continued endorsement of open-ended financial military support without clear, objective and measurable conditions. This is true. We need a clear EU strategy on how we will end this war and secure Russia's defeat as soon as possible.”
“Europe can defend itself without the United States. Let us concentrate on getting our forces combat ready, reinforce them, and build independent European joint capabilities to enable our defence. It will take years, but the sooner and faster we act, the sooner it will be ready. Meanwhile, let's integrate the strongest army in Europe – the Ukrainian armed forces – into European defence through EU and NATO membership as soon as possible. Slava Ukraini! 2-0395-0000”
“Madam President, Madam High Representative, dear colleagues, the US decision to stop the rotation of US army brigade to Poland became a surprise. Typically for the Trump administration, it seemed to be a surprise even to the US army and the Congress. However, we have been warned about the reduction of the US forces in Europe ever since President Obama's time. So we had ample time to prepare, but failed to do so. So what to do now? Well, let's not cry over the spilt milk. Let's finally accept the fact of the US forces' withdrawal from Europe. This trend will most probably continue even after Trump leaves office. European military forces of NATO and EU countries number around 1.5 million soldiers, with around 1 million in reserves. US combat forces represent only around 5 % of the European combat power.”
“This won't stop until they have to pay for these crimes. Now it is time to act, because next time it may be one of our citizens they are hunting with drones. Slava Ukraini! 2-0474-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, ensuring accountability and justice after over four years of Russia's relentless attacks against civilians in Ukraine is extremely important. It is important so that we can put a price on Russia's crimes, so that we can make Russia pay for the damage it has caused, and that we can punish the criminals who have committed these crimes. This is important not only for Ukrainians, but also for us, because if this won't happen, the crimes will continue. We have seen Russian atrocities so many times, in Hungary, in Afghanistan, in Chechnya, in Georgia, in Syria, in Mali, to name a few, and now, yes, in Ukraine. Murder, rape, pillage, you name it. In Ukraine, Russians hunt single civilians on their grocery trips in FPV drones and proudly post these murders on the internet.”
“Ukraine can currently fund only part of its own defence needs, and only part of the industrial capability is used. So the best and most cost-effective way to improve Europe's and the EU's defence industry and defence capabilities is the famous Danish model. Let's invest in the Ukrainian defence industry so that it can produce more capable weapons and systems much cheaper and faster than our own industries can, while at the same time teaching our industry to do the same. 2-0575-0000”
“Madam President, colleagues, the report on the European flagship defence project is a good analysis of the many ways to improve our defence industry and defence capabilities. Among other things, the report stresses that Ukraine is a key part of Europe's defence architecture, and that we should develop our defence and industrial cooperation with Ukraine – and that is very true. During the four years of war, constantly under fire, Ukraine has been able to increase its defence industrial output by 50 times, while the European defence industry has not been able to do even one tenth of it. Ukraine is producing high-end counter-UAV systems and cruise missiles. Even when attacked constantly by Russia, Ukraine is capable of supporting Persian Gulf nations encountering Iran's UAV attacks, but only if there is funding in place.”
“We need to get rid of this dependence on Chinese products so that we can't be blackmailed, and we need to sanction Chinese and other countries' companies and actors supporting Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. This will help Ukraine's defence, and also win time for us when we are building our own capabilities. We need to remember that even though Russia is currently not able to seriously threaten Europe, Putin's will to do so has not gone away. Therefore, we need to build the European counter-UAV capabilities against future Russian threats as soon as possible. 4-0024-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, drones are not a silver bullet that will win wars or solve our defence issues, but they are here to stay, creating both threats and possibilities to our security and defence. Therefore, we need to be much better in developing them, producing them, using them and also countering them. But as this report tells us, we have one big problem in this and it is China. China is a major producer of drone components and materials, and it is using its position to control the markets. At the same time, China is supporting Russia's war industry and helps Russia to produce drones and missiles that are used to kill and maim Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.”
“På bara en vecka har över 300 000 personer skrivit på ett upprop för att stoppa handelsavtalet med Israel, och blir det över 1 miljon kommer EU att tvingas att agera. Jag vill fråga dig: Hur kommer det sig att högern inte kan ta ställning för palestiniers rätt till fred och frihet och för folkrätten? 2-0482-0000 Pekka Toveri (PPE), blue-card answer. – It's simple. Ukraine is a democratic country which was attacked by Russia. Palestinians in Gaza are led by terrorists who attacked Israel. 2-0483-0000”
“The report stresses also that the EU must signal that any attempt by non-EU countries to violate the sovereignty of its Member States will be met with immediate retaliation. This was written thinking about Russia, but we must remember it also when we watch President Trump's latest actions. We must be ready to use our full economic power to protect every Member State who is threatened by Trump administration over Greenland. Slava Ukraini! (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 2-0481-0000 Hanna Gedin (The Left), fråga ("blått kort"). – Jag håller med om allt som har sagts om att stötta Ukraina. Men jag kan faktiskt inte förstå varför du inte med ett enda ord nämner folkmordet i Gaza. Över hela världen protesterar folk. Man vill få ett slut på grymheterna.”
“Mr President, High Representative, dear colleagues, the third annual report recognises Russia and China as our main threats and adversaries, but it also gives us a warning about the United States. The report lists a number of defensive activities for the EU. But the most important message is on page nine. When discussing the Russian hybrid warfare against the EU, the report calls on the Commission and Council to develop an action plan with options for EU retaliatory measures that match the hostile activities against the EU. This part should be read carefully in both places, wars, including hybrid wars, are not won by defending. It is time for us to stop thinking about what Russia does to us and start thinking what we are going to do to Russia to stop its aggression.”
“Now it is time to stop funding Putin's war by buying Russian oil, gas and minerals. Now it is time to sanction all Russian oligarchs – also those who are doing business in Member States. Now it is time to stop allowing our businesses to evade sanctions through third countries. And now it is time to sanction those companies and countries that support Russia's war fighting. Let's do our part so that the brave Ukrainians fighting also for our freedom and security can have a peace they truly deserve. Slava Ukraini! 3-0074-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, the now infamous 28-point peace plan started a series of negotiations that are still ongoing. Everybody knows – or at least they should know here – that this is not a serious attempt to reach peace from the Russian side. This is just Putin's attempt to delay and in the meantime kill more Ukrainians. Unfortunately it works. Nobody talks about planned new sanctions on Russia anymore. Putin doesn't want peace, but to make peace we need Russia genuinely to participate in real negotiations and willing to give up its ambitions to destroy Ukraine as an independent, sovereign nation. Therefore, now it's time to force Russia to come to the table. The EU can help this to happen by hitting Russia's already crumbling economy. Now it's time to stop the shadow fleet.”
“Therefore, we Europeans need to send a clear message to Putin: regardless of what the USA decides, we will increase sanctions on Russia and increase funding and military support to Ukraine, including capability to long-range strikes. And we need to actually do it, not just give declarations and talk about it. It is our responsibility, and it is in our interests. Europe is safe when Ukraine is safe. Slava Ukraini! 3-0269-0000”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, the most important lesson from history for us is that you don't stop dictators by appeasing them. Well, we all know that Putin has no interest in making peace in Ukraine, since nobody dares to tell him the truth in Russia, he still believes – wrongly – that he can win the war. Therefore, he has playtime with President Trump. We saw it in Alaska. We see it clearly now in this very slow preparation for a possible Budapest conference. The panic in the Kremlin when Trump talked about giving Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine shows that only the threat of Western military and economic force will put fear to Putin and force him into negotiations. We can't trust in President Trump in this crucial issue; he is far too easily fooled by Russians.”
“Madam President, dear colleagues, as already mentioned here, every day that the war continues, innocent Ukrainian soldiers and civilians die. Therefore, we have to act fast. However, there are some who want the United States to support the use of frozen Russian assets in the G7. Well, what we have learned about President Trump is that the only predictable thing about him is that he is unpredictable. Therefore, we can't wait for President Trump to, maybe, at one point somewhere in the future, agree with the EU. We have to grow up and take independent action now, without waiting for the United States. Some people are afraid of the possible legal actions against us. At the same time, Ukrainians are afraid, every night, of losing their lives in Russian attacks. We owe it to the Ukrainians to act fast. Slava Ukraini! 2-0452-0000”
“Mr President, in accordance with Rule 60(4), I request that the file be referred back to the committees responsible for interinstitutional negotiations. 6.12 TC "6.12 - Нова законодателна рамка за продуктите, адаптирана към цифровия и устойчивия преход (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (гласуване)" \f 1 TC "6.12 - Un nuevo marco legislativo para los productos adaptado a las transiciones digital y sostenible (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (votación)" \f 2 TC "6.12 - Nový legislativní rámec pro výrobky, který je připraven na digitální a udržitelnou transformaci (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (hlasování)" \f 3 TC "6.12 - En ny lovgivningsmæssig ramme for produkter, der er egnet til den digitale og bæredygtige omstilling (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (afstemning)" \f 4 TC "6.12 - Auf den digitalen und nachhaltigen Wandel ausgelegter neuer Rechtsrahmen für Produkte (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (Abstimmung)" \f 5 TC "6.12 - Digi- ja kestliku üleminekuga sobiv uus toodete õigusraamistik (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (hääletus)" \f 6 TC "6.12 - Νέο νομοθετικό πλαίσιο για προϊόντα κατάλληλο για την ψηφιακή και βιώσιμη μετάβαση (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (ψηφοφορία)" \f 7 TC "6.12 - A new legislative framework for products that is fit for the digital and sustainable transition (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (vote)" \f 8 TC "6.12 - Un nouveau cadre législatif pour les produits adapté à la transition numérique et durable (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (vote)" \f 9 TC "6.12 - Creat reachtach nua le haghaidh táirgí atá oiriúnach don aistriú digiteach agus inbhuanaithe (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (vótáil)" \f A TC "6.12 - Novi zakonodavni okvir za proizvode koji je prikladan za digitalnu i održivu tranziciju (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (glasovanje)" \f B TC "6.12 - Un nuovo quadro legislativo per i prodotti adatti alla transizione digitale e sostenibile (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (votazione)" \f C TC "6.12 - Produktu jaunais tiesiskais regulējums, kas piemērots digitālas un ilgtspējīgas pārkārtošanās vajadzībām (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (balsošana)" \f D TC "6.12 - Nauja gaminių teisės aktų sistema, tinkama skaitmeninei ir tvariai pertvarkai (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (balsavimas)" \f E TC "6.12 - A digitális és fenntartható átállásra alkalmas termékekre vonatkozó új jogszabályi keret (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (szavazás)" \f F TC "6.12 - Qafas leġiżlattiv ġdid għall-prodotti li jkun idoneu għat-tranżizzjoni diġitali u sostenibbli (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (votazzjoni)" \f G TC "6.12 - Een nieuw wetgevingskader voor producten dat geschikt is voor de digitale en de duurzame transitie (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (stemming)" \f H TC "6.12 - Nowe ramy prawne dotyczące produktów, dostosowane do zrównoważonej transformacji cyfrowej (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (głosowanie)" \f I TC "6.12 - Um novo quadro legislativo para os produtos preparado para a transição digital e sustentável (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (votação)" \f J TC "6.12 - Un nou cadru legislativ pentru produse, adecvat pentru o tranziție digitală și sustenabilă (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (vot)" \f K TC "6.12 - Nový legislatívny rámec pre výrobky, ktorý je pripravený na digitálnu a udržateľnú transformáciu (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (hlasovanie)" \f L TC "6.12 - Nov zakonodajni okvir za proizvode, ki je primeren za digitalni in trajnostni prehod (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (glasovanje)" \f M TC "6.12 - Digitaaliseen ja kestävään siirtymään soveltuva uusi lainsäädäntökehys tuotteille (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (äänestys)" \f N TC "6.12 - En ny lagstiftningsram för produkter lämplig för den digitala och hållbara omställningen (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (omröstning)" \f OA new legislative framework for products that is fit for the digital and sustainable transition (A10-0189/2025 - David Cormand) (vote) 2-0195-0000”
“Let's take the Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine. Let's increase sanctions also to the third countries supporting Russia. That is the only language that Russia understands and the only way to stop its attacks. 3-0090-0000”
“Madam President, dear colleagues, even after these recent violations by Russia, some people say that we are not at war with Russia. This is true. However, Russia is at war with us. This is not me saying this; it's Putin himself saying so. Russia has waged a hybrid war against us, and it has prepared for conventional attack against us for over 15 years, constantly increasing its efforts to destabilise us. And to those who suspect GPS jamming coming from Russia, well, come to Finland. We can show it. Why would they stop when there is no attribution? No price, just rewards for its actions against us. In stopping Russian attacks, the 'drone wall' is good, but attribution is better. Russia won't stop before it pays for its crimes. Let's put that price to Russia. Let's stop the shadow fleet for good.”
“What we can't afford is to lose thousands of people and rebuild our societies if our deterrence fails. Russia is an aggressive, imperialistic dictatorship which will threaten Europe even after Putin is gone. Now it's time to be strong, not weak. Si vis pacem, para bellum. 3-0039-0000”
“Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, we all know that the threat of Russia is acute and that time to prepare our defence is short. We also know that we are too weak and need to be stronger. Some people claim that investing more in our defence will ruin our welfare. That is a clear lie. NATO countries used, before the end of the Cold War, for decades around 4 % of their GDP on defence, some even more. Germany used to have 2 500 main battle tanks plus 1 500 in reserve. Now they have less than 300. Holland had 450 tanks, now zero. But still NATO countries were able to build the base of the Western welfare system we all enjoy today. To say that we can't afford to invest in our defence is a lie. We can do both defence and welfare, as long as we are wise and focused on how we use our money.”
“One should not side with those who dream of Tsarist power or world empire. Mr Toveri, how do we find European cooperation and understand that the situation is that only a united and strong Europe, which covers its powers in all areas of activity, will survive? 2-0418-0000”
“I have three children, all in the Finnish army reserves, ready to defend us all. I want them to be properly equipped to do that. We must and we can afford to do that. Otherwise, saying that is not true, it is a lie. And to those who claim that Russia's defence budget is much smaller than Europe's, please Google purchasing power parity and the Russian defence budget – you will be surprised. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 2-0417-0000 Merja Kyllönen (The Left), blue-card question. – Diplomacy really did not help Finland when our neighbour Russia decided to come across the border. The US has also been a long-term partner, but now it seems that President Trump is using the divide-and-rule model known since Roman times to get China off Russia's side to divide Europe and oppress others under its own power.”
“Madam President, dear colleagues, some people in this plenary question the need for defence investments. Either they say that we should try diplomacy or that Russia is not a threat – both are wrong. Russia has broken the Minsk agreements and other agreements hundreds of times and it is well recorded. We can't trust Russia. Diplomacy won't work. Those who say that Russia is not a threat normally come from countries that has not been attacked, occupied, raped and pillaged dozens of times through history like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and many other countries have. Don't lecture us about peaceful Russia, we know better! Europe has finally – after decades of inaction – started to take the right steps towards our security and defence. Let us continue on this path.”
“Ukraine needs peace and security against new Russian aggression. Here, those who worry about the money are selfish, those who talk about diplomacy don't know Russia. Russia respects only force and now it's time to use it. The time to act is now. Slava Ukraini! 2-0123-0000”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, the war in Ukraine is now in a crucial phase. Ukraine is under great pressure, but Russia is not about to win this war. However, Putin seems to think so. Therefore, we need to act decisively to prove him wrong. The Russian army is exhausted and its economy is weakening. Now it's time to support Ukraine by funding its defence industry, which is capable to produce material worth over EUR 20 billion annually, but it is currently funded only to 30 % of its capacity. And we need to hit Russia's economy, for example, by stopping its shuttle fleet, which is used to fund this war and is threatening our seas with environmental catastrophe as we speak. These kind of actions are needed to force Russia to the negotiating table on Ukraine's terms, not on Putin's terms.”
“Nevertheless, we shouldn't avoid doing so just because it will be difficult and expensive. Locking the front door does not help if the back door is open. We need balanced, 360‑degree security and defence to secure the whole EU, our democracy, our societies and citizens. And the earlier we start, with adequate resources, the better. 3-0145-0000”
“Madam President, dear colleagues, we are living in dangerous times where dictatorships like Russia challenge our democracy, not only with military means but also with hybrid warfare. Because of that, we need to understand that we need both security and defence. Investing billions in defence is useless if the dictatorships break us from the inside by breaking our unity and democracy with information operations and by destroying our civilian infrastructure with sabotage and cyber attacks. As an old soldier, I know how important military defence is. I also know that building military defence is relatively easy. We all have defence forces. It is easy to build them so that they are bigger and stronger. But building security against hybrid warfare and improving the resilience of our civilian society is much more demanding.”
“We need to lower the price restrictions on the Russian export oil to USD 50 per barrel or even lower, and we need to stop the whole shadow fleet, using many different methods mentioned here, and not only around one sixth, as we have done so far. Inaction and lack of punishment just empowers Russia. Making Russia pay stops it. Slava Ukraini! 2-0369-0000”
“Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, as we have heard, Russia is waging hybrid war against us all, in this case, by using its shadow fleet and other maritime actors to destroy our undersea infrastructure and to threaten us with ecological catastrophe. We have now heard about many different defensive actions taken to prevent these attacks in the future. However, let's keep the eye on the ball and at the root cause of these attacks, the Russian illegal attack on Ukraine. Russia uses the shadow fleet to avoid EU sanctions and to fund its war in Ukraine, plus to punish us for our support to Ukraine. We need to stop this for Ukraine and for ourselves. But let's not fool ourselves: these attacks won't stop by surveillance and defensive operations. These actions stop when Russia is made to pay for its crimes.”