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Finland’s President Alexander Stubb believes that a peace agreement in the Russian-Ukrainian war is unlikely to be reached before spring, and that European allies must continue supporting Kyiv despite the recent corruption scandal, UATV English informs.
He said this in an interview with the Associated Press.
“I am not very optimistic about achieving a ceasefire or launching peace talks, at least this year,” Stubb said.
According to him, to bring peace to Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders must significantly increase pressure on Russia and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in order to change his strategic thinking.
“Putin essentially wants to deny Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and these goals have not changed since the war began almost four years ago,” the Finnish president stressed.
Stubb noted that there are three major issues on the road to a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war: security guarantees for Ukraine, the restoration of its economy, and achieving “some understanding regarding territorial claims.”
He also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must “quickly deal with the allegations of bribery and embezzlement.”
According to Stubb, this scandal plays into Russia’s hands. Nevertheless, he urged European leaders to consider increasing financial and military support for Kyiv.
He also noted that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned Zelensky that Russia would use reports of corruption in the highest echelons of power for propaganda purposes.
The European Commission, for its part, considers the exposure of the corruption scheme as evidence that Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies are functioning effectively.
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that corruption is widespread throughout Europe, but what matters most is how it is addressed, and she expressed confidence in Ukraine’s anti-corruption path with EU support.
Read also: UN Secretary-General Condemns Russia’s Attack on Ukraine, Repeats Call for Full Ceasefire
