Overview
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb said President Trump has shifted from carrots to a stick in dealing with Vladimir Putin and is working daily to end the war.
- He listed potential measures such as secondary sanctions, higher tariffs, more creative use of frozen Russian assets, and supplying U.S. weapons able to strike deep into Russia.
- Stubb called an EU proposal to borrow about €140 billion against frozen Russian assets an “ingenious” interest-free loan repayable only if Moscow pays reparations.
- The plan is set for discussion at an informal EU summit in Copenhagen on Oct. 1, with Belgium’s role and Euroclear’s holdings highlighted as key concerns.
- Describing himself as a realistic optimist, Stubb urged patience on Ukraine’s prospects and backed efforts to work around Hungary’s veto to accelerate EU accession.