Today, many see Russia’s military as the second-strongest in Ukraine. "The Kremlin often claimed it had the second-strongest military in the world, and many believed it. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Helsinki, Finland, on Friday, June 2, said Russia’s war against Ukraine had exposed massive shortcomings in its military and had diminished Russia’s power and influence “for years to come.”Blinken made the remarks at Helsinki City Hall during what was the first visit of a US secretary of state to Finland since its accession to NATO on April 4.In the speech, Blinken discussed the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland’s subsequent decision to join NATO, and yearslong efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to weaken Western alliances and position Russia as a “global economic power” – efforts Blinken said had been a “strategic failure.”“President Putin spent two decades trying to build Russia’s military into a modern force, with cutting-edge weaponry, streamlined command, and well-trained, well-equipped soldiers,” Blinken said.