Donald Trump appears to be losing his patience with Vladimir Putin, according to Finnish President Alexander Stubb following a detailed conversation with Trump.
Stubb emphasized that during their upcoming phone call on Monday, Trump and Putin shouldn’t dictate the future of Ukraine without considering President Volodymyr Zelensky’s perspective.
He mentioned that U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal might introduce a sanctions package to Congress this week, depending on how the call unfolds. Stubb spoke with Graham almost daily, describing the sanctions as “breaking the bones.”
At a security conference in Estonia, Stubb remarked, “Zelenskyy is patient, but President Trump is starting to feel anxious, which could lead us in the right direction towards addressing Russia.”
He noted that as long as the West continues provoking a response from Putin, discussions on sanctions need to maintain their credibility, even if they aren’t immediately implemented.
After his talks with the European Foreign Minister last week, Graham is expected to align with provisions targeting foreign companies importing Russian energy. Interestingly, Graham ties the sanctions to Trump’s tariff approach rather than suggesting they replace it.
The initial package proposed a staggering 500% tariff on goods from nations trading with Russia to acquire energy.
Stubb indicated that European communications with Putin would be coordinated through leadership from the UK, France, and Germany, advising against individual countries acting alone at high levels.
As one of the few European leaders who has Trump’s ear, Stubb revealed that he has been trying to shift Trump’s understanding of Russia’s economic and military capabilities.
During a conversation at the Rennertmeli Security Conference in Tallinn, he shared that Russia is attempting to downplay its status, claiming it’s no longer a significant force in terms of economy.
He pointed out that Russia’s economy is now smaller than Italy’s, slightly bigger than Spain’s. Three years back, he attempted to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty; however, the situation has drastically changed, with Ukraine experiencing economic struggles, including high interest rates and dwindling reserves.
Stubb emphasized that Russia no longer qualifies as a great power, stressing the importance of communicating this perspective. It’s challenging, but consistent engagement with the U.S. administration is necessary.
He remarked that Trump’s outlook resembles that of 19th-century power dynamics, marked by fierce competition and some cooperation. The aim should be to convince the U.S. administration that free trade and unified regulations are preferable over isolationist policies.
NATO’s U.S. ambassador, Matthew Whitaker, participated in the conference, reiterating America’s friendship with Europe but cautioning that the U.S. military presence in Europe is limited. “President Trump has indicated that changes are on the horizon,” he noted.
He mentioned that while the transition will be systematic, there’s no room for delays—outcomes need to be realized and acted upon.
Planning for troop deployments will become increasingly complex if the announcement of U.S. troop withdrawals is postponed until after next month’s NATO summit.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky acknowledged that the balancing of defense expenditures between Europe and the U.S. has been overdue and expressed gratitude towards Trump. He recalled how Japanese Admiral Yamamoto remarked about Americans—“We’ve awakened the sleeping titan”—and now, “Putin has awakened the giant.”
He reflected on how NATO nations have already doubled their defense spending, noting that they now contribute 2% of their GDP towards defense.
Looking ahead to the next NATO summit, Sikorsky noted that a new target for hard defense might be set at 3.5%, with civil defense at 1.5%. He suggested that achieving these goals will redefine Europe’s stance towards Russia, noting that Europe has been outspending the U.S. in some areas for the past two and a half years.
Stubb reiterated in his discussions that the notion of the U.S. leaving NATO hasn’t been mentioned, stressing the importance of U.S. partnership in the alliance.
Estonian President Ara Charis shared an experience of sitting next to Trump for two hours during the Pope’s funeral in Rome, reassuring him, “Don’t worry, you’re safe.”
However, he cautioned that sharp disagreements regarding Russia’s strategy could emerge during the NATO summit. European leaders want to clarify that Russia poses a long-term threat irrespective of the resolution in Ukraine. It’s still uncertain how Zelensky might participate in the summit, but his presence is deemed crucial for leaders wary of peace discussions impacting Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
