Russia has effectively abandoned any remaining restraint in its war against Ukraine, according to Pekka Toveri, a Finnish member of the European Parliament and former army general. In an interview with European Pulse, Toveri said Moscow is now striking residential neighbourhoods, cultural landmarks, and government buildings with increasing frequency, signalling a deliberate shift in tactics.
“They have taken all the rules off the table,” Toveri said. “Nothing is off-limits anymore. It’s not just military infrastructure – it’s the civilian fabric of Ukrainian cities.”
Toveri, who served as Finland’s chief of military intelligence before entering politics, warned that the intensified strikes could render large parts of Kyiv uninhabitable as winter approaches. Heating systems, power grids, and water supplies are already under strain, and repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure could force a humanitarian crisis in the capital.
Russia’s ground war is faltering
Despite the aerial onslaught, Toveri argued that Russia’s principal military weakness remains its ground campaign. “They have not been able to conquer basically anything of strategic value in months,” he said. “The offensive is stalled, and morale is low. The Kremlin is compensating with missiles and drones because it cannot win on the ground.”
His assessment echoes recent reports from the front lines, where Ukrainian forces have held defensive lines despite heavy pressure. Toveri believes that Russia’s reliance on long-range strikes is a sign of desperation rather than strength.
The MEP’s comments come as diplomatic efforts intensify, with talks in Oslo easing US-Ukraine tensions and intelligence sharing resuming. However, Toveri cautioned that any ceasefire negotiated under current conditions would only benefit Moscow. “Putin is not interested in peace; he is interested in regrouping,” he said.
EU must hold its course
Toveri urged the European Union to maintain and even increase its support for Ukraine. He called on member states to end their purchases of Russian gas, which continue to fund the Kremlin’s war machine, and to tighten sanctions further. “Every euro spent on Russian energy is a euro that pays for a missile hitting a Kyiv apartment block,” he said.
His remarks come as the EU faces tough choices to fund Ukraine’s €70 billion shortfall, with budget negotiations colliding with peace talks. Toveri insisted that the bloc must not waver, even as some member states grow weary of the financial burden.
“The cost of inaction would be far higher,” he said. “If Ukraine falls, the next target could be Moldova, the Baltic states, or Poland. Europe’s security is indivisible from Ukraine’s.”
Toveri also criticised the Trump administration’s recent overtures to Moscow, which have deepened the transatlantic rift. He noted that Europe has held its course despite American pressure to negotiate on Putin’s terms. “We cannot let short-term political interests in Washington dictate the fate of the continent,” he said.
The Finnish MEP’s warnings are particularly resonant given his background. As a former general, he has firsthand knowledge of Russian military doctrine. He believes that Putin’s strategy is to make Ukraine unlivable, forcing mass displacement and breaking the will of the population.
“The winter will be brutal,” Toveri predicted. “But Ukrainians have shown remarkable resilience. The question is whether Europe will stand with them until the end.”
