🇫🇮Week of October 12

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused US President Donald Trump of admiring Russian President Vladimir Putin, a charge a researcher at Tampere University assessed as accurate. The accusation marks a further public deterioration in relations between Kyiv and Washington.12

Zelenskyy's latest jab at Trump follows a turning point late in the evening of 9 October, after which Trump's stance on Ukraine shifted completely. Analysis of the episode focused on Zelenskyy's smile and a long silence as signals of the change.34

Zelenskyy also summed up the state of the relationship with the remark "That was that." The comment was carried as the headline of one Finnish account of the deepening breach.5

US President Donald Trump froze newly approved sanctions on Russia, citing the American national interest. A Kremlin representative called the move a "historic moment".12

Finnish Minister Sari Essayah commented on Trump's announcement on Yle, calling it an "extremely depressing piece of news".34

Experts gave a bleak assessment of the effect on Finnish pump prices after the sanctions freeze. A researcher argued that Trump's "Putin deception" has harsh consequences and that only one option remains.45

Left Alliance leader Minja Koskela has presented a major reform of state finances and said she is prepared for billion-euro cuts. She also proposes restoring the tax deduction for trade union membership fees at double the previous level.1234

Koskela attacked the Social Democratic Party, saying it has turned to the right, and demanded an explanation from SDP leader Antti Lindtman. The charge was carried as the lead line of Iltalehti's coverage of her proposals.5

The proposals place Koskela's party in the debate over public finances that has been dominated by the National Coalition Party's nine-billion-euro savings list, which contains no tax increases and targets social and health care spending.14

The Finnish Defence Forces imposed a short temporary restriction on aviation and maritime traffic in the eastern Gulf of Finland. The restriction was lifted, and no drones reached Finland, according to the headline of Helsingin Uutiset.1234

The restriction was temporary and short-lived, and it has now ended. Coverage described the episode as a repeat of earlier aviation and sea-area limits in the eastern Gulf of Finland.235

The lifted restriction was the subject of explanatory coverage asking what the measure had been about. No drones arrived in Finland during the period the restricted area was in force.15

A 16-year-old opened fire at a primary school in Oregon in the United States, killing three children and a teacher. Five people died in the shooting, with children among the dead, CNN reported. The teacher tackled the attacker.123

A parent who arrived at the scene shot the attacker, according to new information on the school tragedy. Iltalehti identified the person who shot the assailant as a pupil's father.45