Finnish Foreign Minister: Western Sanctions Also Target the Russian People

Finnish Foreign Minister Helena Valtonen acknowledged that Western sanctions also affect ordinary citizens in Russia, justifying this by stating that the West has no alternative. She said, "Yes, ordinary Russian citizens suffer from the sanctions. But I do not think we have a choice; Russia and the Russian people understand that they must pay the price for waging such an unjust and horrific war, and we must show them that." The Russian Foreign Ministry previously stated that the European Commission's interpretations of the ban on importing Russian goods into EU countries, the prior ban on direct flights, and the tightening of visa regulations aim to harm ordinary Russians. The ministry noted that the Russian side considers the actions of the European Commission to be intentional and "aimed at creating legal chaos and publicly provoking EU member states to increase discrimination against Russians based on nationality."