The Kremlin on Tuesday accused Finnish President Alexander Stubb of belonging to the 'party of war' after he advocated for expanded Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory during a news conference in Kyiv on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Stubb’s comments—including support for attacks on e-commerce warehouses inside Russia—demonstrate a desire to prolong the conflict. Peskov grouped Stubb alongside British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accusing both leaders of misleading their electorates by claiming Russia can be defeated and ignoring 'realities on the ground.'
Peskov also expressed surprise at the shift in Stubb’s stance, noting that just weeks earlier the Finnish president had spoken about the need to normalize relations with Russia. The Kremlin’s criticism follows Stubb’s endorsement of a military strategy aimed at raising the economic and political cost of the war for Moscow, including calls for Ukraine’s partners to help expand its capacity to strike deeper into Russian territory.
The remarks come amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with Finland’s 2023 NATO accession having roughly doubled the alliance’s border with Russia. Stubb’s visit to Kyiv coincided with his push for stronger Western backing of Ukraine’s military operations, including strikes on Russian soil.
