Global Unity Needed to Urge Putin Towards Peace Negotiations – Finnish PM

The global community needs to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to initiate ceasefire discussions regarding Ukraine, stated Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in an interview with AFP on Monday.

Orpo, whose nation has a lengthy border of 1,340 kilometers (approximately 830 miles) with Russia, emphasized that «without imposing pressure, Putin is unlikely to seek a resolution. Therefore, we require more forceful actions.»

He indicated that the international community ought to provide «sanctions, military assistance to Ukraine, increased military support, and political backing—everything we can offer» to aid Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression.

Orpo made these comments during a gathering of Nordic prime ministers in Finland.

His statements followed reports from Kyiv that Russia had launched its largest drone assault on Ukraine overnight, just hours after Donald Trump labeled Putin as «crazy» and cautioned that Moscow could face additional sanctions if it persisted in its lethal attacks.

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store noted that so far, there have been no indications from Russia of a willingness to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

«Unfortunately, we have not seen any signals to that effect,» he conveyed to AFP.

«I hope this will encourage the U.S. to take a clearer stance and exert pressure, rather than withdrawing,» he remarked, referring to the recent assaults on civilians by Russia.

He concluded that these attacks reflect Putin’s «lack of willingness… to engage sincerely in ceasefire or peace talks.»