Finnish President Alexander Stubb has dismissed the possibility of negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Putin does not want peace and is determined to destroy Ukraine. Stubb believes that Ukraine must be armed as much as possible while increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets. Speaking in a video conference with about 25 world leaders, Stubb reinforced that Russia should face maximum resistance.
The Finnish leader made clear that Putin has no interest in a ceasefire and is instead focused on ensuring Ukraine ceases to exist. He emphasised that Western countries must strengthen their support for Kyiv by supplying weapons and implementing tougher sanctions on Russia. Finland is already preparing its twenty seventh aid package for Ukraine, reaffirming its commitment to Kyiv’s defence.
Stubb also addressed the possibility of deploying troops as part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine. He explained that while concrete steps can only be taken once a ceasefire or peace agreement is reached, there are many ways this could be done. However, he noted that such discussions remain premature given Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Finland, which shares a long 1340 kilometre border with Russia, has been a NATO member for almost two years. Since joining the alliance, the country has strengthened its security measures and taken a strong stance against Russian war crimes. In a recent case, Finnish courts sentenced a militant from the notorious Rusich group, identified as Petrovsky, to life imprisonment for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
"I don't think Putin wants a ceasefire, Putin doesn't want peace"
Finland President Alexander Stubb says the Russia's President Putin still wants Ukraine to "cease to exist"#BBCLauraK https://t.co/WAWCirkFTF pic.twitter.com/XXWYP83sMY
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 16, 2025
