Putin showed ‘true face’ by bombing Ukraine after ceasefire call, says Finland’s president

“As someone who’s mediated the ceasefire in Georgia in 2008, I can say this is a fairly typical Putin tactic,” Stubb said in an interview. “We have an aggressor who says he wants a ceasefire and peace, but refuses to commit.

“And I think yesterday’s phone conversation between Trump and Putin was a step in the right direction, but we are now seeing the true face of Putin,” he added.

Asked what sort of pressure would ultimately convince Putin to stop his attacks on Ukraine, Stubb said: “Deterrence — which is based on militarizing Ukraine to its teeth.” He also cited future membership in the European Union and in NATO.

Ahead of a leaders’ gathering in Brussels this week, the Finnish president also urged EU countries to ramp up pressure on Moscow by bolstering sanctions, seizing frozen Russian assets and continuing financial support to Kyiv. “It’s very important now to get a message from Europe that the military, political and economic support continues,” he said.

However, he lamented the fact that a plan proposed by top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas to deliver up to €40 billion in military aid to Ukraine had failed to gather enough support in the European Council to win approval by leaders.

“It’s my understanding that the [Kallas] package in the making did not cross the finish line today, and I hope that heads of state and government will be able to salvage it,” he said.