Finnish PM: Only tough sanctions can push Putin to negotiating table

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has welcomed recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding his readiness to impose sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if peace efforts fail.

According to Yle, Orpo described Trump’s remarks about potential sanctions against Russia and its economic partners as “good news.”

“I believe this is the only right tactic to push Putin toward peace negotiations. He has had many opportunities to come to the negotiating table, but he has not taken them,” the Finnish prime minister said.

He added that during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, he spoke with senior U.S. officials in attendance.

“Their message was very clear: Putin has gone too far, and that’s why Trump has changed his approach,” Orpo noted.

He went on to say that secondary sanctions in the form of tariffs on Russia’s trading partners would deal a significant blow to Moscow.

“If Russia’s trade partners are forced to pay high tariffs, this will undoubtedly have serious consequences for the Russian economy and its ability to finance the war against Ukraine,” he emphasised.

By Khagan Isayev