U.S. President Donald Trump should proceed with imposing additional sanctions on Russia, as they could help bring the war in Ukraine to an end, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Friday in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview.
Trump had set a deadline for Friday, demanding that Russia agree to peace in Ukraine or face secondary sanctions targeting its oil buyers. These sanctions could cut off a significant stream of funding for Russian President Vladimir Putin's war effort.
Despite this, a meeting between Trump and Putin could take place as early as next week, following talks between Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday - raising the possibility that the sanctions might be postponed or cancelled.
However, a White House official stated that the sanctions on countries continuing trade with Russia were still on track to take effect Friday.
“I sincerely hope President Trump follows through with these sanctions,” said Valtonen, referring to measures that could particularly impact major buyers of Russian oil such as China and India.
On Wednesday, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb joined a call with Trump and several European leaders to coordinate Western strategies to end the war.
Valtonen emphasised the importance of continued Western military support for Ukraine, suggesting that the rise in arms deliveries is pressuring Moscow to seek an exit from the conflict, which began in February 2022.
“The increased flow of weapons to Ukraine is clearly putting pressure on Russia, which is why we’re now seeing signs of willingness to negotiate,” she said.
Finland, along with other Nordic and Baltic countries, has been one of Ukraine’s most committed supporters. The 2022 invasion led Finland - sharing a 1,340-km border with Russia to join NATO, ending decades of military non-alignment. Valtonen took office two months after Finland’s accession.
She also noted that Russia’s economy is under growing strain due to sanctions and its wartime spending.
“We need to continue applying pressure and hope that eventually Russia will respond by ending the invasion,” she said.
On Gaza
Valtonen also voiced deep concern over Israel’s decision to expand its military operations by taking control of Gaza City - a plan approved by its security cabinet on Friday amid increasing global condemnation of the nearly two-year-long conflict.
Speaking about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks to Fox News that Israel intends to take over the entire Gaza Strip, Valtonen stressed the importance of preserving the possibility of a two-state solution, even if it appears distant now.
France, UK, and Canada have recently indicated plans to recognise a Palestinian state, but Valtonen said Finland is not currently considering such a step.
She added that mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine, as well as normalised relations between Israel and Arab nations, would be essential to any future recognition.
The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the ...
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective ...
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting ins...
Azerbaijan is evacuating nearly 200 people from the Middle East on a special charter flight departing from Oman...
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the ...
The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the Taliban of holding American citizens to gain political concessions and demanding the immediate release of detained Americans.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Azerbaijan is evacuating nearly 200 people from the Middle East on a special charter flight departing from Oman.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment