In Munich, Metsola talks up Europe and reveals something personal about her son

Roberta Metsola has pushed back against suggestions that Europeans are losing interest in Ukraine, while also revealing that one of her sons is serving in the Finnish military.

The European Parliament President also warned that Vladimir Putin’s main objective remained that of emphasising division between Europe and the United States.

“I won’t fall into that trap,” she said.

Metsola was speaking at a roundtable discussion at the Munich Security Conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and US Senator Roger Wicker. 

New world order

In remarks during the roundtable, Metsola said the world had entered a new geopolitical era in which old assumptions no longer held, warning that Europe could not afford complacency as Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds on into its fifth year. 

“I think we’re living in a time in geopolitics where everything has changed. Everything is over in all respects,” Metsola said. 

The discussion was moderated by CNN International journalist and host Christiane Amanpour.

EU help for Ukraine

Metsola pointed to what she called an “immense increase” in defence spending across Europe since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as well as an “unprecedented number of sanctions” imposed on Moscow. She also highlighted action against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers used to bypass restrictions, saying more than 600 vessels had been detained, while stressing that much more needed to be done.

The Parliament president said the EU would next week sign an EU-approved €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, agreed in under four weeks at “unprecedented speed”. 

“When push came to shove, we put our money where our mouth is,” she said. 

The comments came after a journalist questioned why Russian assets had not been fully diverted to Ukraine and argued that Moscow was still not feeling enough “pain” from Western pressure. 

Metsola replied that Europe had moved further than many believed possible, but acknowledged that more needed to be done. 

She reiterated her support for Ukraine's bid to join the EU. 

"Ukraine has delivered under the worst possible circumstances," President Metsola added. "It is time for the European Union to formally open negotiations.” 

Son in Finnish military

Responding to arguments that public support for Ukraine was fading, she rejected the idea that Europe was simply looking away. She recalled attending the opening of the Winter Olympics, saying the loudest cheer in the stadium had been for Ukraine. 

Metsola also noted NATO’s expansion since the war began, with Finland and Sweden joining the alliance - adding a personal detail that one of her sons is serving in the Finnish military. 

Metsola’s husband is Finnish. Every male Finnish citizen aged 18-60 is liable for military service.

“We took freedom for granted and took too long to respond,” she said. “Today we are there. We need to take it to the next level. This is not charity, it’s a win-win for everyone.  

Rutte: Russia targeting cities to hurt morale

Rutte said his recent visit to Kyiv had underlined both the scale of Russia’s attacks and the resilience of ordinary Ukrainians. He described the impact of missile strikes on heating infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without power during the winter, and recalled meeting civilians who had endured occupation and confinement. 

 “People say: keep on supporting us, we will not give in,” he said, arguing that Russia was making only marginal gains on the battlefield but continued to target cities in an effort to weaken morale at the front. 

Senator Wicker said the United States Congress was preparing a new package of sanctions aimed at squeezing Russia’s oil revenues, which he described as essential to sustaining the war effort. He argued that President Vladimir Putin had never negotiated in good faith and would only do so once Moscow was placed under significantly greater pressure. 

Zelensky, for his part, reiterated that Ukraine was willing to pursue diplomacy but insisted that any settlement must be backed by firm security guarantees. He warned that without a clear path towards EU and NATO integration, Russia would simply regroup and return.