“Most Russians Are Against the War, and Europe Should Talk to Putin"

In an interview  with Finland’s president Alexander Stubb (Coalition Party), published on Sunday in the Swizz newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NNZ), Stubb points to Ukraine’s improved situation in the war against Russia.

"Relations with Russia are essential. This border will remain. At some point, we will have to maintain political relations," the Finnish president stated.

Asked about possible negotiations with Russia as the U.S negotiations are going nowhere, Stubb said Europe should engage in dialogue with the Russian president.

“Yes, I think we should talk to Putin,” Stubb answered.

Be prepared

Stubb stated that the majority of Russian citizens are against the war, and that in the long term, Europe must have a dialogue with Vladimir Putin, even if relations with Russia will never be the same. He says that Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, knows that it cannot ignore its neighbor forever.

He argues that European countries should not wait for talks between the US and Russia but be prepared for their own contacts with Moscow when the time is right.

According to Stubb, the European Union should initially initiate possible contacts. If this format fails, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom could attempt to organize negotiations.

The article in NZZ notes that former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, former Italian PM Mario Draghi, president of the European Council António Costa, former president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Finland’s former president Sauli Niinistö have been previously mentioned as possible future mediators.

Stronger

At the same time, the Finnish president emphasizes that Europe's support for Ukraine must continue, and that dialogue does not mean appeasement towards Russia.

Stubb still sees the United States as a crucial partner for European security but believes Europe must be stronger and more proactive on its own.

His remarks about the need for dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin have attracted considerable attention from Russian media.

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In Russia, Stubb's words were perceived as a sign of a change in the West's position, according to the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

Door knocker

According to the paper's Moscow correspondent, Russian media presents Stubb's interview with NNZ as proof that even anti-Russian NATO Finland understands the need to talk to Putin.

At the same time, Helsinging Sanomat emphasizes that the attention of Russian media is explained not only by his status, but also by the growing interest in Russia in any signals about possible negotiations and a future settlement of the war in Ukraine.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the majority of Russians currently oppose the war and that Ukraine's situation on the front lines has improved in recent months.

Russia, on the other hand, used Stubb as evidence that the West was beginning to falter.

According to the Finnish news site Rulehti, Putin's former speechwriter Abbas Gallyamov says Russia's deteriorating economic and frontline situation is increasing pressure to negotiate, and Stubb could be a suitable door knocker.