Finnish President: Putin Rejects Peace Talks, Urges Sanctions

Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, stating that Putin's fundamental goal remains the destruction of Ukraine's sovereignty. Stubb emphasized the need for the international community to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions and military support for Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment during a virtual summit with international leaders, urging them to maintain pressure on Putin to engage in negotiations. Starmer noted that any potential ceasefire proposed by Putin should be taken seriously, but warned that the coalition must be prepared to monitor it to ensure compliance. Both leaders highlighted the importance of a united front among Western nations to support Ukraine and deter further aggression from Russia. The discussions followed a recent US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky also advocating for security guarantees to accompany any ceasefire agreement.