- Category
- Latest news
Finland’s Stubb: Putin Unlikely to Seek Peace in Ukraine, Russia’s War Machine Must Be Weakened
- Authors
![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has no intention of ending the war in Ukraine this year, urging international efforts to weaken Moscow’s military capacity, ERR reported on August 27.
Speaking to a gathering of ambassadors, Stubb emphasized the need to target Russia’s war infrastructure before economic pressures eventually limit its capabilities.
“Russia will not be able to keep its war machine operational for much longer. Unfortunately, we cannot say exactly how long, which means this war machine must be attacked,” Stubb said.
“Let me be clear: those most likely to influence President Putin toward peace are found in the East and South rather than the West. Especially Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Stubb noted that economic and political pressures, rather than diplomatic efforts from the West, will likely bring the war to a close. He referenced US President Donald Trump’s past actions toward Russia, including his readiness to impose sanctions, as examples of leverage benefiting Ukraine.
“Trump’s patience with Russia has already run thin several times, and each time he acted in Ukraine’s favor,” Stubb said, citing US tariffs on India for purchases of Russian oil, gas, and weapons.
The Finnish leader also expressed skepticism about bringing Putin to the negotiating table, calling such efforts “a typical Russian stalling tactic” designed to buy time.
“I constantly try to make Trump understand that engaging Putin in negotiations is a hopeless endeavor, and now it’s only a matter of time how the President will respond,” Stubb said.
Stubb added that he maintains regular contact with around 60 US senators and remains hopeful that these diplomatic efforts will eventually bear fruit.
Earlier, Stubb described Putin as “a strategic fool and a military failure,” citing the Russian leader’s miscalculations in Ukraine and the geopolitical consequences that followed.
