Poland, Finland Leaders Urge New Sanctions on Russia

(MENAFN) The leaders of Poland and Finland are demanding a new, tougher round of sanctions against Russia, as the conflict in Ukraine persists despite diplomatic efforts. Speaking at a joint press conference in Helsinki, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the necessity of increased pressure on Moscow.

"Further packages of sanctions are necessary," Nawrocki stated to reporters. "I support new sanctions, as well as secondary sanctions," he added, referring to measures against nations that help Russia bypass existing restrictions.

This push for more severe penalties comes as officials from the European Union and the United States are in talks to coordinate new measures. This would be the first such joint effort since U.S. President Donald Trump's reelection. Trump recently indicated his readiness to proceed with a "second stage" of sanctions.

To date, Western allies have sanctioned approximately 2,500 individuals and entities, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of about $335 billion in Russian central bank assets, among other actions. The EU has also largely banned Russian oil imports, with the exception of shipments to Hungary and Slovakia.

"We don't trust Putin's intentions, and that's why we're developing our armed forces, our partnership, and our allied relations," said Nawrocki.

Nawrocki and Stubb share a deeply rooted distrust of the Russian leader, stemming from their nations' shared history with Russia. "Our shared history, that of Finland and Poland, shows that both Poles and Finns are intimately familiar with the Russian soul and Vladimir Putin. We discussed this. Both I and the president obviously don't trust Putin's good intentions," Nawrocki said. "We are deeply convinced that Putin is ready to attack more countries," he added.

"That's why we're developing our armed forces, our partnership, and our allied relations, and building the responsibility of our states in the face of the changing security architecture in Central Europe, Northern Europe, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic states," Nawrocki continued. He also highlighted that Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia—the longest among EU member states.

While acknowledging he couldn't speak on behalf of the American people, Nawrocki reiterated his belief that further sanctions were essential, noting that current measures are already impacting Russia's economy.

He concluded, "Europe and the US are now coordinating their sanctions policy towards Russia, and I think that's good news."

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