Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said there is no point in engaging with Russia until it shows willingness to end its full-scale war in Ukraine.
“I see no possibility for such contact or talks with Vladimir Putin now, because I believe that such conversations could only begin when Russia clearly demonstrates that it wants to end the war. There is a very simple way to do that: cease hostilities, seek a truce, and only then can something be discussed with the Kremlin regime,” the head of state told reporters on Thursday.
“Attempts to talk a priori, without Russia fulfilling even minimal conditions, have ended in failure,” Nausėda said during a joint press conference with his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb.
The Finnish president said European leaders should speak directly with Moscow, noting that there has been no peace in Ukraine for four years.
Speaking in Vilnius, the Finnish president suggested that European leaders should speak directly with Moscow, noting the lack of peace in Ukraine for four years.
“We have said from the beginning that if negotiations between Russia and Europe were to start, they must be based on two things. First, European interests; we must ask ourselves the simple question of whether Europe is interested in not maintaining contact [with Russia], especially if the Ukrainians were inclined for Europe and Russia to be in touch,” Stubb said.
“Another thing we must consider is [...] who, how, where, and when should establish that contact. We, as leaders of European countries, will have to decide this among ourselves, coordinating our position together,” he said.
According to Stubb, European discussions with Russia can only begin when Ukraine is in a “position of strength”. The president said Kyiv currently holds the lead over Moscow on the battlefield and in other areas.
“It is not a question of whether we are legitimising the war or the regime, but sometimes you simply have to engage in uncomfortable conversations to end a war,” the Finnish leader said.
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