Speaking to Yle on Saturday, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) stressed the importance of expanding sanctions on Russia and suggested that Europe could impose reciprocal tariffs on the United States in response to US President Donald Trump's new tariffs.
Valtonen also commented on President Alexander Stubb's recent meetings with heads of state, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
While Stubb has said that at some point, Finland will need to reopen dialogue with Russia, Valtonen on Saturday emphasised it was not the right time to call Moscow.
"Now is not the time to phone Putin," she told Ykkösaamu.
During a meeting with Trump in Florida last weekend, Stubb conveyed a message proposing that a ceasefire in Russia's war of aggression could begin on 20 April. This date was put forward at a gathering of the coalition of willing nations in Paris, which includes 30 EU member states, as well as Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia and Turkey.
Valtonen pointed out that the United States is not committed to any specific deadline for the ceasefire.
Nevertheless, she said she believes that the US will not tolerate the situation for long.
"The United States won't keep watching this for too long. It's well known that Trump doesn't have the longest patience when it comes to striking deals or making concessions," Valtonen explained.
She also noted that an expansive sanctions package on Russia would be crucial at this point.
"Russia's economy cannot sustain this war forever," Valtonen said, adding that she believes Russians are dissatisfied over rising consumer prices.
She said things would have been different now if other countries had had the patience to impose tougher sanctions.
Turning from Russia to the US, Valtonen said Europe could impose reciprocal tariffs.
Trump's ten-percent "baseline" tariff on all imports from many countries came into effect on Saturday. EU states are facing a 20-percent duty.
Valtonen said the bloc could impose reciprocal tariffs but noted that a trade war was hardly desirable. The Trump tariffs could be an entry point for negotiations, according to the foreign minister.
"It would be an especially damaging situation if tariffs and counter-tariffs remained in place," she said.
