Former Finnish President Niinisto noted the decline of Europe's influence in the world

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that the conflict in Ukraine has led to a decrease in Europe's influence in the international arena. In an interview with Yle on November 10, he noted that now the key decisions are made by the United States, China and Russia.

"I sometimes drew these power structures in the form of a square, in which the EU was a single whole. Unfortunately, it has formed a triangle now. It seems to me that Europe is now beginning to be targeted: it must pull itself together," Niinisto said.

He added that European countries often repeat the actions of the United States in negotiations with Russia, instead of pursuing an independent policy. According to the former president, it is important for European states to maintain contacts with Russia, given Washington's role in world politics.

Sanctions and Steve Jobs: how Finland paid for the conflict with Russia

The recession in the country turned out to be deeper and tougher than in Germany.

Earlier, on November 3, it was reported that the Finnish economy may face difficulties due to growing defense commitments to NATO. The increase in defense spending leads to a reduction in funding for other areas, including higher education, which can negatively affect the training of qualified specialists.

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