European countries will have to start negotiations with Russia at some stage, but that moment has not yet arrived. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed such an opinion in an interview with Iltalehti newspaper.
Orpo emphasized that he is ready to sit down at the negotiating table with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he believes that the time for that conversation has not yet come. "How and when to start the dialogue should be decided in a coordinated way with the European countries.
As for Finland, Russia is our neighbor, and if it is possible to end this war, then the dialogue should start at some point, but that moment has not yet arrived," he said.
According to the Prime Minister of Finland, "the ball is in Russia's court" and it will be difficult for Finland to restore dialogue with its neighbor as long as the conflict over Ukraine continues.
"When the issue of establishing peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine is in Putin's hands, it depends on Russia whether the situation will move in the direction of restoring dialogue," he said.
Earlier, the Politico magazine, referring to sources, reported that the European Union countries are discussing the possibility of appointing a special representative for negotiations on the settlement of Ukraine, who will conduct a dialogue with the Russian side on behalf of the community. Finland's President Alexander Stubb is among the possible candidates for that role.
