“The Time Has Come”: Finnish President Names What Ukraine Needs to Succeed in Negotiations with Russia

“The time has come”: the President of Finland named what Ukraine needs for success in negotiations with Russia Margarita Voloshina

Finland stated that Ukraine is now in a much stronger position/Collage 24 Channel

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has responded positively to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's desire to see the Russian side at the second peace summit. He considers this “playing his cards right.”

According to him, the issue of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia “has reached a point where the process needs to begin.” He noted that this is not necessarily about territorial concessions.

What the Finnish President said

As Alexander Stubb explained, our country is now in a much better position than it was two months ago. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are receiving the necessary equipment and resources needed to hold their positions.

We are no longer in a situation close to despair, which we were in the spring with the blocking of American aid and Europe's difficulties in delivering equipment to Kyiv. There is also no Russian breakthrough. According to our intelligence, Russia is not moving forward, and its losses are even greater than before, he said.

Commenting on the appropriateness of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the moment, as well as the likelihood of territorial concessions on the part of our state, the leader noted that it is worth being able to distinguish between a possible discussion process and peace.

The President of Finland claims that the start of peace talks is not a guarantee that territory will have to be ceded. According to him, Volodymyr Zelensky needs four key elements to be successful.

Alexander Stubb explained that the first concerns the territories currently occupied by Russia, and this will be “only his decision.” The second important point is the need for security guarantees for Ukraine.

“And here we can help through bilateral agreements and a possible path to NATO and, of course, the European Union. Thirdly, justice is needed to prosecute Russian war criminals. And finally, Zelensky needs support to rebuild his country,” he emphasized.

No less important in this issue is the withdrawal of occupation troops from the territory of our state. However, as Stubb says, this cannot be seen as a precondition. It is necessary to convince the Global South of Russia's imperialist goals and the threat.

It is in their interests to end this conflict. If Xi Jinping wanted to stop the war, he could call Putin and say: “Enough,” Stubb added. In his opinion, China could do a lot to stop the fighting, since it has a “strong position vis-à-vis Russia.”