Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has called for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war by April 20. However, he insists the truce must have “no conditions.” According to Finnish news outlet Yle, Stubb also urges strong sanctions on Russia to ensure compliance.
Explaining his proposal, he said, “Finland’s proposal is April 20. That would be a good time for a complete ceasefire without any conditions. Why April 20? Because we need a deadline. Because it’s Easter. And because (US) President (Donald) Trump will have been in office for three months.”
Meanwhile, Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham is preparing a sanctions package. This proposal has support from 50 senators.
Trump Grows Frustrated with Russia’s Delays
During his statement, Stubb also pointed out Trump’s dissatisfaction with Russia’s slow response. “He (Trump) is very impatient with Russia’s actions, with this collusion and delay in the ceasefire,” Stubb said. Furthermore, he noted that US patience is wearing thin. “And that, in my opinion, is a good thing,” he added.
Finland Seeks Trump’s Support for Ukraine
Earlier, Stubb met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on March 29. The visit was unofficial and included breakfast, lunch, and a round of golf.
According to Finland’s press release, they discussed several topics, including Finland-US relations and global security. Notably, Politico reported that both Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham praised Stubb’s golf skills.
Finland Closely Monitors Ceasefire Talks
Since joining NATO, Finland has strongly supported Ukraine. Additionally, the country shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, making the situation even more critical. Earlier this month, Stubb met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He positioned himself as a European envoy ready to participate in negotiations.
US and Finland Strengthen Icebreaker Partnership
Later, Trump shared his thoughts on TruthSocial. He wrote, “And that includes the purchase and development of a large number of badly needed Icebreakers for the US, delivering Peace and International Security for our Countries, and the World.”
Notably, in November, the US, Canada, and Finland signed an agreement to build Arctic and polar icebreakers. These ships are crucial for navigating the Arctic, a region of growing importance to the US, Russia, and China.
Currently, Russia operates the world’s largest fleet of icebreakers. However, Finland remains a global leader in designing and constructing them.
