Helsinki: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on Thursday that the recent sanctions imposed by the EU and the US on Russia could significantly influence the trajectory of the ongoing war.
According to Anadolu Agency, Orpo emphasized the importance of demonstrating equal or superior strength to Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the conflict.
"(Russian President) Putin believes only in power. If we want to stop the war, we have to be on the same level or even stronger," Orpo remarked before the European Council meeting. He warned that Russia continues to pose a 'permanent threat' to European security and called on US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Politico, to authorize Ukraine to utilize America's long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles for strikes inside Russia.
Orpo expressed his hope that Ukraine would receive the necessary capabilities to defend itself and potentially launch strikes against Russia. He also pointed out the need for Ukraine to acquire more weapons from Europe, despite the continent's limited capabilities, suggesting that purchasing from the US might be necessary.
"This is not only a question of Tomahawks. If we can find a solution on how we can finance Ukraine strongly and find a long-term solution using frozen assets, it will be so strong a message to Putin that he understands that he cannot win this war. This can be a game changer," Orpo added.
The US government, on Wednesday, announced new sanctions targeting Russia's major oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow's 'lack of serious commitment' to peace efforts aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. The US Treasury Department highlighted that these measures are designed to weaken Russia's energy sector, thereby reducing the Kremlin's revenue for its military activities and supporting its struggling economy.
Additionally, the European Union unveiled its latest sanctions package against Russia. The bloc's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, announced the adoption of the 19th sanctions package, which targets Russian banks, crypto exchanges, and entities in countries like India and China.