Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to engage in negotiations with Europeans. Speaking to “Stern”, Niinistö stated that Putin’s current message is: “I am ready to talk, but don’t think I am weak”. However, according to Niinistö, one must weigh Putin’s words and actions against the backdrop of recent severe attacks on Ukraine and the testing of the new Sarmat long-range missile. He suggests that while Putin may have plans regarding the war and peace in Ukraine, he simultaneously aims to reaffirm his power.
Having personally met Putin dozens of times during his own presidency, Niinistö emphasized that negotiations with Moscow must address the future of European security architecture. He stressed that this is a topic that extends far beyond the immediate conflict in Ukraine and that Europe must be a central party to these discussions.
Another critical subject for negotiation, according to Niinistö, must be hybrid warfare. He perceives this danger as comparable to the risks associated with nuclear armament following World War II. To prevent further escalation, he argues that urgent agreements must be reached with Moscow regarding the limitation of hybrid warfare methods. Niinistö asserts, “We must reach Russia where the two superpowers were when they got the atomic weapons in the 50s”.
Niinistö has frequently been cited by experts as a potential European mediator for talks with Moscow, a role he explicitly stated he does not rule out.