Alexander Stubb believes it is appropriate to offer European military support to the States to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for strengthening Ukraine
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has admitted the possibility of an agreement with the United States on Iran and Ukraine. The idea is that Europe could join the security of the Strait of Hormuz, and Washington could strengthen support for Kyiv. According to him, this is a “good idea” that requires further discussion. As Informator reports, he said this during a question-and-answer session at the London think tank Chatham House, Politico reports. PromPolitInform portal informs.
The Finnish president noted that he would consider this proposal together with the team.
“I think it’s a really good idea. No, I think it’s actually a very good idea,” Stubb said.
At the same time, he admitted that Finland itself does not have the resources to participate in ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, and the role of European forces there remains uncertain. According to him, the key issue for Europe remains the issue of supporting Ukraine and involving the United States in this process. Stubb believes that the prolonged US war against Iran could weaken Ukraine’s position in the war.
The Finnish president drew attention to the economic consequences. Rising energy prices and a possible easing of sanctions against Russian oil could increase Moscow’s income. In addition, the United States is using interceptor missiles in the Middle East, which reduces their availability for Ukraine.
According to Stubb, negotiations on ending the war are approaching a critical moment. They could collapse or leave Kyiv without US support.
“The Russian economy was in very bad shape a few weeks ago, and now it is recovering,” Stubb noted.
Zelensky warns of threats to the peace process
The escalation in the Middle East is affecting support for Ukraine. This concerns the shortage of air defense systems, the growth of Russia’s energy revenues and the shift in international attention. In particular, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern about the prospects for peace talks with Russia. During a visit to the UK, he said that Washington’s attention is now more focused on the conflict with Iran. Because of this, diplomatic contacts, including trilateral meetings, are being postponed.
The President of the European Council, António Costa, said that the European Union should be ready to take the initiative in negotiations with Russia to end the war if the current US efforts do not yield results. He noted that in the future, Brussels will have to engage in a dialogue with Moscow on security issues and establishing peace in Ukraine. However, the time for this is not yet ripe.
