Ukraine peace talks reach critical moment - Stubb
President of Finland Alexander Stubb (Photo: Getty Images)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that the peace negotiations on Ukraine are at a critical moment, but a peace agreement is closer than ever, according to his interview with the Buitenhof channel.
“I think we are at a critical moment in negotiations for peace, and at the same time, we are probably closer to a peace agreement than we have been any time during these four years,” he said.
According to the Finnish president, the US, Ukraine, and Europe are currently working on three documents:
- The first is a framework document outlining a 20-point peace plan;
- The second covers security guarantees for Ukraine;
- The third focuses on the country’s reconstruction.
Stubb also emphasized that Russia remains the main problem for European and Western security.
“Russia is the number one threat to Europe and, actually, the Western world,” he stressed.
Stubb on the peace agreement
Alexander Stubb declined trips to both the US and Berlin for negotiations on Ukraine.
In an earlier interview with Finnish media, Stubb warned that a peace agreement for Ukraine might be a compromise and potentially unfair.
He openly admitted being disappointed when he saw the initial version of the peace plan.
Stubb emphasized that it is unrealistic to expect all the conditions for a fair peace, which had been discussed over recent years, to be fully met.
The president added that Finland could play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as the country possesses some of the strongest defense forces in Europe.
US peace plan for Ukraine
Ukraine, the US, and Europe have spent the past month revising the American peace plan, which in its original version favored Russia.
The plan has now been modified and reduced from 28 points to 20.
The most contentious issue remains territorial, specifically the Donbas region. Washington is demanding that it be handed over to Russia, while Ukraine rejects such proposals.
Recently, it was reported that the parties are discussing three key initiatives: a framework document, a security guarantees agreement, and a document outlining principles for post-war reconstruction.
According to sources cited by the WSJ, the White House aims to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2025.
