Economic Pressure Can Force Russia to the Negotiating Table, Stubb Says
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that Russia’s dwindling economic resources and growing internal strain could be used to push Moscow toward peace negotiations with Ukraine.
The Gaze reports this, referring to his interview with BBC Radio 4.
Stubb argued that sustained Western economic pressure, coupled with clear political unity, offers the best chance to compel the Kremlin to end its war.
According to the Finnish leader, Russia’s economy is “running out of steam”: its reserves are nearly exhausted, growth has stalled close to zero, and inflation is fluctuating between 10 and 20 percent.
“Sanctions could be put on countries that buy Russian oil and gas in addition to the 19th European sanctions package targeting Russia,” Stubb said, adding that Europe must transfer €200 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as a loan.
“All the strategic games of Putin have been an utter failure,” he emphasized. “Russia has not conquered Ukraine, divided Europe, or weakened NATO. Instead, the Alliance has become stronger with Finland and Sweden now among its members.”
The president said Finland remains committed to helping Ukraine achieve security guarantees as part of a broader “European Coalition of the Willing,” providing assistance in air defense, maritime operations, and intelligence.
However, he acknowledged that U.S. involvement remains indispensable, particularly in air defense coordination and operational support.
Stubb reaffirmed that Finland will never recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Donetsk, or Luhansk. “Only Ukrainians can decide their territorial questions,” he said.
Stubb also commented on the role of U.S. President Donald Trump, describing him as “the only person who can truly make Vladimir Putin sit down at the negotiating table.”
He recalled Trump once asking whether he could trust Putin – a question Stubb answered with a firm “no.” The Finnish leader said the U.S. president has shifted from offering “carrots” to using more of a “stick” in his rhetoric toward Moscow, suggesting that firmer pressure may now be producing results.
Stubb expressed cautious optimism that peace efforts have advanced more during Trump’s second term. He said he hopes to see the first signs of progress – a ceasefire and the beginning of a broader peace process “in the coming days and weeks.”
As The Gaze reported earlier, Finland joined the Tallinn Mechanism, an international framework led by Estonia that coordinates assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s cyber resilience.