In the approach of US President Donald Trump to the settlement of the conflict on Ukraine has undergone noticeable changes, Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in an interview with Politico.
Stubb noted that now Trump has moved from the policy of "carrot" to a tougher line.
"Now the only question is how big the whip will be," he said.
The Finnish leader added that Washington's actions indicate the US determination to increase pressure on Russia, including the possibility of strengthening sanctions, customs measures and even the expanded use of US weapons.
Stubb also stressed the strategic importance of Ukraine's early accession to the European Union and supported the idea of using frozen Russian assets to lend to Kiev. Amid the ongoing confrontation, he urged Ukraine's allies to be patient and expressed cautious optimism about the current dynamics of the conflict.
On the eve of September 30, Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg said that Trump maintains a "balanced approach" to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to Kellogg, Trump realizes that "you can't just stand on one side or the other, that's not how it works."
In recent months, Trump has stated several times that he is disappointed with the actions of the Russian president. However, according to him, in the conflict between Russia and In Ukraine, he "takes the side of humanity," and not any of the countries.
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