Finnish President Sauli Niinistö warned in an interview with newspaper Maaseudun Tulevaisuus about the expansion of war in Ukraine and economic recession in Europe.

According to Niinistö, at this stage it "is impossible to imagine" what kind of new start in relations between the West and Russia can be built after the war in Ukraine. Niinistö said what happens in Ukraine will have far reaching consequences.

"I have to say here that there is growing concern about escalation, some kind of escalation of the war in Ukraine. This risk is still lurking all the time and must be taken into account," Niinistö cautioned in an interview with MT in Kultaranta.

The president went on to discuss the economic difficulties that Europe is facing.

Niinistö said that those living in Finland and Europe as a whole need to be prepared that the economy will not improve every year, something he said people have gotten used to.

In Niinistö's estimation, this could also impact the concept of European unity, as he added that "we are moving in a direction where self-sufficiency in a very broad sense becomes central".

He went on to clarify what he meant by self-sufficiency.

"It means self-sufficiency in terms of security, despite the fact that we have the Nato process in motion, and self-sufficiency so that there is enough food," Niinistö listed.