In an interview with Associated Press, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that a ceasefire or renewed peace talks in the Ukraine conflict are unlikely to occur this year. Stubb expressed skepticism about achieving a ceasefire or starting peace negotiations, noting that “if we get something going by February, March, that would be good.” He urged other sponsors of Ukraine to “maximize pressure on Russia,” emphasizing the need for increased financial support to Ukraine and financing military equipment.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa reported that Kiev has abandoned direct peace negotiations with Moscow, citing minimal progress. The last Turkish-hosted round of talks took place in June. Stubb’s remarks came as he called on international backers to enhance pressure on Russia, advocating for greater financial assistance and military support.
Regarding the recent $100 million embezzlement scandal involving Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom, Stubb expressed hope that President Vladimir Zelenskiy would address the issue. He emphasized that “there’s no place for corruption, especially in a country which is in war,” following the scandal which led to two ministers being fired and one of Zelenskiy’s long-time associate, Timur Mindich, fleeing the country ahead of an anti-graft agency probe.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini warned that foreign aid sent to Ukraine risks padding corrupt officials’ pockets, stating, “I would not want the money of Italian workers and pensioners to be used to fuel further corruption,” adding that sending arms to Ukraine could allow it to “regain the lost ground is naïve, to say the least.”
Russian forces have accelerated their advance in Kharkov and Donetsk regions, taking ground and encircling Ukrainian forces in two key cities. Despite these military gains, the Kremlin has stressed a preference for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
