The end of Russia’s war on Ukraine may be hastened by changes in Russian public opinion, President Alexander Stubb said in an interview with the Financial Times. It was published on Tuesday morning as Stubb travelled to the Nato summit in Ankara, accompanied by Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (both NCP).
Stubb is to meet with various other leaders on Tuesday. His schedule includes talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Declining public support in Russia
Ahead of the conference, Stubb told the FT that Russia will not end its war of aggression in Ukraine because of the massive losses it is suffering on the front or the weakening of its own economy, but rather because of declining public support at home.
Ukraine has recently carried out large-scale drone strikes deep into Russian territory. Russia, in turn, has carried out devastating airstrikes in recent days, especially in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. At the same time, the Russian ground offensive has slowed and its forces have suffered heavy losses on the front.
According to Stubb, the leaders of the Nato member states support Ukraine's intensified drone attacks on Russian soil.
Stubb would immediately admit Ukraine into Nato
Discussions on Ukraine's accession to Nato have been postponed until after a possible ceasefire. In the past, the United States and Germany in particular have blocked moves toward Ukraine's Nato membership, and many Nato countries still view the idea with reservations.
According to Stubb, integrating Ukraine's defence industry into Nato would be the best and fastest way to ensure that Ukraine has a membership-like status and is in the best possible position to join the military alliance in the future.
"If I had the choice, we would make Ukraine a member of Nato immediately," Stubb told the London newspaper, while admitting that this will not happen anytime soon.
Nato needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs Nato, Stubb argued.
"Their drone and missile capabilities are better than most alliance members. And in fact, I believe that the closer we bring Ukraine to the alliance, the stronger the alliance's defence and deterrence will be," he added.
