Ukraine peace talks toughest 5% still unresolved, Finnish President says
Photo: Alexander Stubb (Getty Images)
A peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia is closer than ever during the war, but the most difficult 5 percent remains ahead, says Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
"We’re probably closer [to reaching a peace agreement] than we have been at any time of this war," Stubb says.
He adds that President Donald Trump's special envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, have been working around the clock over the past few weeks to narrow the differences between the two sides.
Stubb points to unity among Western allies after talks in Berlin last weekend, citing two key conclusions.
"One was that Europe, Ukraine and the United States were united in our resolve to get a just and lasting peace... and the second one was the idea of security guarantees for Ukraine. So we're sort of almost there, but the most difficult 5% are still left," he adds.
Stubb also suggests that negotiations may be more flexible behind closed doors, calling the contrast between public statements and private negotiations quite typical in diplomacy.
The Finnish President adds that negotiations have intensified, and the balance of sticks and carrots in the negotiations is working.
"The Russian economy is actually not doing that well. They have zero growth. They are out of reserves. They have high interest rates and high inflation. And it's not improving", Stubb says.
If Russia were to flatly reject a peace framework agreed upon by Ukraine, Europe, and the US, "that's when it's time to hike up the sanctions," he adds.
Stubb on peace agreement
Alexander Stubb canceled his trips to the US and Berlin for negotiations on Ukraine.
Earlier, in an interview with Finnish media, Stubb warned that a peace agreement for Ukraine could be a compromise and unfair.
The President added that Finland could play a role in security guarantees for Ukraine, as the country has one of the strongest defense forces in Europe.
