Elina Valtonen on the future of Russia after Putin: assessment of the Finnish Foreign Minister

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen has expressed doubts that Russia will turn into a peaceful democracy if President Vladimir Putin is removed from power.


In an interview with The Washington Post, she emphasized that Russia's policy of aggression was a sign of a long process, not just the will of one leader.


Elina Valtonen noted that Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and annexed Crimea in 2014, and Putin supported their implementation. She expressed doubt that Putin's departure would automatically lead to Russia's transformation into a peaceful democracy, as the West hopes for the country's openness to civil society and democratic change.


"But while hoping for this, we must prepare for the worst, and the worst is that Russia will remain as it is, and in the future, perhaps, it will be even worse," the minister added.