Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that US-led efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine may have stalled completely, citing a deadlock over territory and a lack of willingness from Moscow to make peace.
Speaking to Norway’s VG, Stubb – who maintains close ties with both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky – said talks appear to have reached “the end of the road.”
“It may be due to the war in Iran, which is drawing attention away from Ukraine. But it may also be that negotiations have come to a dead end because they are no longer making progress,” he said.
Stubb added that US negotiators had “done everything they could,” and that the outcome now hinges largely on one issue – the status of Donbas.
“The big problem is that I don’t think Russia wants peace,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing signs that US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow have stalled despite multiple rounds in 2026.
Ukraine sent a delegation to the United States last weekend in an effort to revive the process, but the talks produced no breakthrough.
“Unfortunately, there is no real progress as yet,” Zelensky said on Tuesday after meeting his negotiating team. “Russia does not want to move towards peace.”
The core sticking point remains territory. Moscow is pushing for control over parts of Donbas still held by Ukraine – a demand Kyiv has firmly rejected. Washington has floated the idea of turning the region into a “free economic zone,” but no agreement has been reached.
Zelensky has also ruled out any territorial concessions and called for future negotiations to take place at the leadership level, arguing only direct talks between top leaders can resolve the dispute.
Stubb also warned that global dynamics – including the war in Iran and reported US moves to ease restrictions on Russian oil – risk weakening efforts to pressure the Kremlin, further complicating already stalled peace talks.