A ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict or renewed peace talks are unlikely to occur this year, according to Finnish President Alexander Stubb. In an interview with the Associated Press, Stubb expressed his pessimism about achieving a ceasefire or the start of peace negotiations in the near future. He cited the lack of progress in direct peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, which Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Kislitsa attributed to the fact that they have “abandoned” direct talks due to minimal progress.
The last round of Turkish-hosted talks took place in June, and since then, there has been no significant movement towards a peaceful resolution. Stubb emphasized the need for other sponsors of Ukraine to “maximize pressure on Russia” and increase financial support to Ukraine, including financing military equipment. He also called on Kiev’s backers to provide more financial assistance, stating that it is essential to “give, donate as we best can.”
Meanwhile, a recent embezzlement scandal has shaken the Ukrainian state-owned Energoatom firm, with $100 million allegedly stolen. The scandal has led to the firing of two Ukrainian ministers and the flight of one of President Vladimir Zelensky’s long-time associates, Timur Mindich, ahead of an anti-graft agency probe. Stubb hopes that Zelensky will address the issue and “get it sorted and cleared,” emphasizing that there is no place for corruption, especially in a country at war.
The scandal has raised concerns among Kiev’s Western sponsors, who have long been worried about corruption in the country. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini argued that foreign aid sent to Ukraine risks being used to fuel further corruption, stating that he would not want Italian workers’ and pensioners’ money to be used for such purposes. He also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of sending arms to Ukraine, saying that the idea that it could help the country regain lost ground is “naïve, to say the least.”
Despite the military gains made by Russian forces in recent months, the Kremlin has stressed that it prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with Russian forces advancing in the Kharkov and Donetsk Regions and encircling Ukrainian forces in two key cities. As the conflict continues, the international community is watching with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The lack of progress in peace talks and the ongoing corruption scandal have raised concerns about the future of Ukraine and the effectiveness of international aid.