Summary

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Ukraine is in a stronger position militarily, politically, and financially than it was a year ago, arguing that Russia is not winning the war and that the next step should be bringing Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Speaking to Bloomberg Talks, Stubb said peace negotiations had recently resumed, with US presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveling to Moscow before heading to Kyiv. He said the renewed diplomatic activity could lead to a partial ceasefire before winter. JOIN US ON TELEGRAM Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I think we’re in a much better place in general than we were a year ago,” Stubb said in an interview, published Wednesday, Sept. 23, adding that Ukraine is currently “on top” on the battlefield. Stubb argued that Russia is failing to make decisive territorial gains despite continuing its offensive. “This year the Russians have acquired 900 kilometers [560 miles] of land from Ukraine. But Ukraine has taken 800 km [500 miles] back,” he said, describing the situation on the ground as a stalemate in terms of territorial gains. He also cited what he described as a current “killing ratio” of one Ukrainian soldier to five Russian soldiers, while acknowledging that the comparison was “morbid.” “So I think the message that we have to the Russians is that listen, you guys are not going to win this. So let’s try to end it,” Stubb said. “Zelensky wants peace. Trump wants peace and now we need to get Putin to the peace table.” Europe Warned It Is Running Out of Time to Prepare for Wider War With Russia Stubb backs reciprocal energy ceasefire Stubb also addressed Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries and Moscow’s calls for a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure. He said any agreement to stop attacks on energy infrastructure would need to be mutual. “If Ukraine doesn’t hit oil refineries, then Russia should not hit energy and electricity installations in Ukraine, especially as winter is coming,” Stubb said. He acknowledged that Russia’s record in such arrangements has been poor, adding that Moscow continues to strike Ukrainian targets while Ukraine has focused some of its long-range attacks on Russian oil refineries and logistics centers. Stubb said he understood the reasoning behind Ukraine’s attacks, describing Russian oil refineries and logistics centers as important sources of revenue and support for Russia’s war effort. Ukraine needs air defense, energy support, and money Stubb said Ukraine’s immediate needs remain largely unchanged from those he outlined during a NATO meeting in July: air defense, support for energy infrastructure ahead of winter, and financial assistance. “There are three things that Ukraine needs. One is air defense and second one is energy installations for the winter and the third one is money,” he said. Finland recently provided a package worth about €300 million ($343 million), which Stubb said was focused on critical air defense, but he acknowledged that more support would be necessary. He specifically pointed to the need for Patriot and other anti-ballistic systems, saying countries that possess such systems should help Ukraine. Stubb was also asked about efforts to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles domestically. He said he did not have the latest information because he had not yet spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following his latest meeting with US President Donald Trump. However, Stubb said he viewed meetings between Trump and Zelensky positively because they allow the US president to receive a direct assessment of the battlefield and Ukraine’s needs. Trump could take stronger role in negotiations Stubb said Trump’s decision to allow his negotiators to become involved again in the peace process could indicate that the US president is preparing to take a stronger role in negotiations. “The president of the United States is extremely active,” Stubb said, adding that Trump is simultaneously dealing with issues in the Western Hemisphere, domestic politics, the Middle East and Ukraine. “But it seems to me that he’s of course allowing his negotiators to get involved again, which would indicate to me as well that President Trump will take an even stronger role now in the peace negotiation,” he said. You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter