Iryna Pohorila19:40, 18.05.25
Alexander Stubb believes that Putin’s intransigence could pave the way for a “devastating” package of sanctions from the US.
US President Donald Trump is losing patience with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin over his unwillingness to sit down at the negotiating table regarding Ukraine.
This statement was made by the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, after a long conversation with his American counterpart, writes The Guardian . The Finnish president expressed the opinion that Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who will speak on the phone tomorrow, should not decide the fate of Ukraine through the head of its President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Stubb also said that if the conversation is not satisfactory, a package of anti-Russian sanctions that senators describe as “devastating” will be submitted to Congress this week.
“Zelensky is patient, and Trump is starting to show impatience, but in the right direction, that is, towards Russia,” Stubb noted.
He added that any contact between Europe and Putin would be through the E3 leadership of Britain, France and Germany. “At the highest level, we should not act alone,” the Finnish president said.
Stubb, one of a small group of European leaders who enjoy Trump’s support, said he used his influence to persuade the White House chief of staff to reconsider his view of Russia’s economic and military power. The publication detailed that Stubb, in a recent conversation with Trump, tried to explain that Russia was no longer a great power.
Stubb told Trump: “Economically, Russia is smaller than Italy, a little bigger than Spain. Militarily, it wanted to deny the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine three years ago. It’s up less than one percentage point this year, its interest rate is over 20%, and its reserves are depleted. So it’s no longer a country that can be considered a great power.”
That was the message Stubb wanted to convey to Trump. “It’s not an easy game, but you just have to continue to engage with the American administration,” the Finnish president commented.
(c)UNIAN 2025
Stubb, one of a small group of European leaders who enjoy Trump’s support, said he used his influence to persuade the White House chief of staff to reconsider his view of Russia’s economic and military power. The publication detailed that Stubb, in a recent conversation with Trump, tried to explain that Russia was no longer a great power.
Stubb told Trump: “Economically, Russia is smaller than Italy, a little bigger than Spain. Militarily, it wanted to deny the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine three years ago. It’s up less than one percentage point this year, its interest rate is over 20%, and its reserves are depleted. So it’s no longer a country that can be considered a great power.”
And Trump does not know these basic facts????????????????
“Trump is starting to show impatience, but in the right direction, that is, towards Russia,”
Hmmm, sounds a lot like what someone else has been saying here for months 😉
Don’t hold your breath, Red, you might not survive it.
What do you mean?
“…tried to explain that Russia was no longer a great power.”
The key word here is “tried”. But, Trump’s low IQ makes it a difficult task, if not impossible.
“is losing patience”
That’s a claim by Alexander Stubb; not anything indicated by trumpkov’s behavior.
trumpkov has ignored putler’s failure to agree to a ceasefire, and has forgiven putler’s failure to show up for talks with President Zelenskyy.