Donald Trump is the only one who can force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine, Finland's president has told the BBC.
Alexander Stubb also said that Finland would never recognise occupied Crimea as part of Russia, and that he wanted to ensure Ukraine became an EU and hopefully NATO member once the war was over.
BBC Radio 4's Today programme spoke to President Stubb ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday, where he told the US president: I think we can end this war with your help.\
Meanwhile, Trump said that Putin has agreed to meet face-to-face with him in Hungary.
The US leader said on Friday that Putin wants to get it ended. I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended. Now we have to get it done.
Zelensky said in the White House that Ukraine was ready to talk in any format and wanted peace, but argued that Putin needed to be pressured into ending the war.
Stubb asserted that the negotiations had probably advanced more in the past eight months during Trump's second term than in the previous three years. He indicated that economic sanctions against Russia could serve as a leverage point to force negotiations. Stubb stressed that the US's role remains critical in this process, providing security guarantees and assistance.
In summary, both Stubb and Trump echoed the sentiment that a concerted effort is required to bring about peace in Ukraine, relying on strategic dialogue and pressure to ensure that Russia is held accountable.
