Photo: EPA
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he doubts Russia’s war against Ukraine will end before winter and identified three key areas Ukraine needs to withstand the coming months: air defenses, additional energy capacity and funding.
“We are preparing a package of assistance for the winter because I do not see the preconditions for the war to end before the cold weather,” Stubb told Reuters on September 24.
Stubb said Ukraine’s partners should work on all three areas as the country faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks and shortages of air-defense systems.
“In a sense, even Starlink can serve as a kind of air-defense element,” Stubb said.
Stubb asks Musk to expand Starlink coverage
The Finnish president said he had appealed to SpaceX founder Elon Musk to expand Starlink coverage over areas where Russian ballistic-missile launchers are located.
Stubb said this would allow Ukrainian forces to target missile launchers in Russian territory as well as in areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia.
“For strategic purposes. That would save lives,” he said.
Ukraine has faced an acute shortage of air defenses ahead of winter, particularly systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. Reuters reported that Russia has significantly increased its use of jet-powered attack drones in recent months, further straining Ukraine’s air-defense network.
Stubb backs ceasefire talks
Stubb also expressed support for renewed peace negotiations involving Ukraine and Russia with U.S. mediation.
He said the simplest starting point would be an unconditional ceasefire, after which the parties could negotiate issues including security guarantees, territorial questions, reconstruction and compensation.
Another possible approach, according to Stubb, would be to establish a period of silence for strikes against energy infrastructure and grain transportation facilities.
His comments come as Washington seeks to advance an energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the proposal during their meeting in New York on September 22.
Stubb’s comments reflect growing concern among Ukraine’s European partners that the war could continue through the winter, despite renewed diplomatic efforts.
