US readies sanctions as Trump's patience on Russia running out - Finnish president
Photo: Alexander Stubb, President of Finland (Getty Images)
Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, stated that US President Trump’s patience with Russia is running out. This is especially due to the delay in reaching a ceasefire in Ukraine, reports Yle.
"He (US President Trump -ed.) s quite impatient with Russia's actions, this kind of scheming and delaying regarding the ceasefire. I tried to explain that this is completely normal Russian behaviour. First we negotiate something – and then the conditions are changed once again," said the President of Finland at a press conference in London.
Stubb's view came after he held an informal meeting with US President Donald Trump, during which the two played golf together.
Additionally, the Finnish leader urged to follow Senator Lindsey Graham's statements in the coming days, hinting at sanctions.
"Having seen a few of them (sanctions -ed.) myself, if they are implemented as they are, we will go quite far," the President reported.
Stubb informed that he told Trump that Russia understands only strength. This includes sanctions and the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Stubb and Trump's statements
During the conversation between the leaders, the President of Finland suggested that Trump set a deadline for the ceasefire. He emphasized that this is important for achieving peace.
"Why 20 April? Because we need a deadline, because it's Easter, and because President Donald Trump will then have been in office for three months," Stubb stressed.
He also reported that the US is developing sanctions against Russia in case it refuses to stop the fighting in Ukraine or violates the ceasefire.
Trump himself, in an interview with NBC News reporter, expressed that he was very "angry" and "pissed off" over Putin's statements about "temporary administration in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN," as well as the ongoing war.
He warned that if a ceasefire agreement is not reached within a month, Washington will impose sanctions on all Russian oil, and anyone purchasing it will be banned from doing business in the US.
"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump said.
