Finland's president says it's time for ceasefire talks

There is no longer a situation close to the desperation in which Ukraine was in the spring due to the blocking of American aid and Europe's difficulties. There is not a single Russian breakthrough. According to our intelligence, Russia is barely making any headway. Putin assumed the West would tire of the conflict. He assumed he could wait for the American elections. But he was wrong," Alexander Stubb noted. He said this in an interview with Le Monde

Alexander Stubb also emphasised the importance of Ukraine's integration into the European Union and NATO, considering it a victory for Ukraine and a defeat for Putin.

The statement came against the backdrop of a meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on 29 July 2024, where the Chinese leader said that he intends to "triple" efforts to "establish peace" in Ukraine.

According to observers, there are several reasons for this. After Beijing's rejection of joint projects with Russia on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline and the creation of a long-range aircraft, Moscow took offence and made discounts on its oil not so attractive to the Chinese.

In addition, the United States began to gradually squeeze Chinese businesses that work with the Russians with sanctions. Also, the Europeans have signalled that they will introduce measures to push Chinese exports out of the EU. Thus, this war is becoming increasingly uncomfortable for Beijing.