Europe’s condition for providing such assistance is that the American president provides all necessary support to Ukraine in order to reach an acceptable peace agreement with Russia, writes Politico.
The idea of negotiating with Trump was floated to Stubb during a question-and-answer session at London think tank Chatham House on Tuesday. The Finnish leader seemed surprised and impressed.
– I think it’s a really good idea – he said, adding that he doesn’t think it’s actually a really good idea.
Stubb said he would review the proposal and discuss options with his team. Finland itself does not have the resources it could send to secure the Strait of Hormuz, and it is still unclear what role European forces could play there.
Officials, including Stubb, fear that the longer Trump’s war on Iran drags on, the more it could limit Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion. Rising global energy prices and Washington’s decision to ease sanctions on the Russian oil industry will significantly increase Vladimir Putin’s income from the sale of Russian fossil fuels.
At the same time, US forces use hundreds of interceptor missiles to shoot down Iranian missiles and drones, leaving fewer available for Ukraine. Kiev and other Ukrainian cities rely on air defense systems to protect against constant Russian ballistic attacks.
Trump recently renewed pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach a deal with Putin, without clarifying what security guarantees America would provide to keep the peace. Stubb said he fears the Ukraine peace talks are fast reaching a crucial moment, which could force Kiev to accept a bad deal that includes ceding territory to Putin.
The talks could even collapse, leaving Europe alone, without American help and forcing European powers to step up their own support for Ukraine through intelligence, weapons and other resources.
Stubb said he has a realistic view of how much he can influence Trump after the two bonded over a seven-hour golf and lunch meeting last year. Finland just bought 64 F-35 fighter jets from the US and hosted thousands of US troops for training in arctic conditions.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
