Donald Trump represents the "only individual who can compel" Russian leader Vladimir Putin to engage in negotiations concerning the conflict in Ukraine, the Finnish president has declared.
Alexander Stubb also commented that Finland would under no circumstances acknowledge seized Crimea as part of Russia, and that he aimed to ensure Ukraine evolved into an EU and preferably NATO member after the hostilities ended.
Before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday, where he informed the US president: "In my view we can conclude this war with your support."
Meanwhile, Trump disclosed that Putin has consented to meet directly with him in Hungary.
Ceasefire Initiatives and Economic Pressure
The US president declared on Friday that Putin "seeks to get it resolved. I believe that President Zelensky seeks to get it resolved. Now we have to get it achieved".
Zelensky stated at the White House that Ukraine was prepared to talk in any format and sought peace, but maintained that Putin needed to be "pressured" into terminating the war.
Stubb shared that Trump had earlier asked him - over a game of golf - whether he could trust Putin; and Stubb's response was in the negative.
"What we require is not mainly the influence of the carrot to persuade Russia to the discussions, it's instead the coercion that will bring them.
"Therefore you have to compel Russia to come to the peace talks for peace and that's the deal President Trump is trying to create."
Economic Pressure and Tactical Factors
Stubb was positive about Trump's capability, remarking he believed peace negotiations had presumably advanced more in the previous eight months during Trump's second term than in the prior three years.
Russia annexed the Crimean region in 2014 and began a comprehensive military operation of Ukraine in 2022.
Stubb asserted that Finland would never recognize Crimea, or the territories of Donetsk or Luhansk, as Russian territory. Russia occupies 70% of Donetsk and almost all of neighboring Luhansk.
He stated "the exclusive individuals who can determine on the territorial question are the Ukrainians directly".
"I aim to make certain that Ukraine, when this war is over, maintains its independence, retains its sovereignty - meaning transitions to an EU member country and ideally a NATO member - and further maintains its territorial integrity. That is what we are all fighting for right now," Stubb stated.
Economic Challenges and Prospective Outlook
Stubb noted that Russia's financial status - less significant than Italy's - was facing challenges, with the country's reserves depleted, growth "virtually around zero", and inflation elevated to between 10% and 20%.
Stubb suggested economic pressures should be utilized to force Russia to the negotiations, primarily giving €200bn worth of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as a loan that would be retained there if Russia did not offer reparations after peace negotiations.
He additionally desired to see transfers of Russian oil and gas to Europe - which have decreased by 80% - cut off. Sanctions could be imposed on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, he stated, in addition to the recent European sanctions targeting Russia.
Strategic Assessment and Conflict Resolution Initiative
Stubb declared "every one of the tactical maneuvers of Putin have been an utter failure". Russia had been unsuccessful in attempting to control Ukraine, to divide Europe and to divide NATO, with two additional members - Finland and Sweden - added instead.
He commented Europe's "alliance of the willing" was equipped to provide security commitments to Ukraine, with the key assistance in the air, on the maritime areas and with intelligence.
But they necessitated a support from the US, especially in aerial protection, intelligence and tactical maneuvers, he stated.
Stubb shared he hoped to see some developments from a two-part peace effort - the first a ceasefire to prevent the killing and the second an continued peace initiative - "in the near future".
"We will persist in pursuing it. The key is to involve and seek to identify resolutions and be pragmatic. In diplomacy you always have to address the world as it exists, not what you would hope it to be, but let's do peace."
