"도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령 인내심이 블라디미르 푸틴 러시아 대통령 때문에 바닥을 보이려 한다"Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, said, "President Donald Trump’s patience is trying to run out because of President Vladimir Putin of Russia."
Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, who communicates frequently with President Trump as a 'trusted confidant,' appeared on Finland's public broadcaster Yle TV1 on the 23rd (local time) and revealed the conversation he had with President Trump.
That day, President Stubb noted, "When I last spoke with President Trump on Thursday night (21st), there were some small signs that his patience was wearing thin." He added, "The chances of President Putin meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine within about ten days are slim, and by that time, Trump's patience will likely run out."
Earlier, on the 18th, President Trump spoke with President Putin during a meeting with European leaders at the White House. He announced that 'preparations for a Russia-Ukraine summit are beginning within two weeks.' However, with Russia maintaining its existing position and showing a lukewarm attitude toward the summit, there are analyses suggesting that President Trump's mood has shifted. European leaders are preparing for the moment when President Trump loses patience, believing he may threaten or implement sanctions or tariffs against Russia.
On that day, President Stubb identified President Trump as the only person who could bring President Putin to the negotiating table. He asserted, "Trump is the only person Putin listens to, and quite frankly, the only person Putin fears." He added a realistic judgment that while it is right for Europe to diplomatically isolate Russia, if President Putin ignores European leaders, there is practically nothing that can be done.
President Stubb has a close personal relationship with President Trump. He communicates with President Trump several times a week, either through calls or messages. In March, he spent seven hours at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida playing golf together.
On the 18th, both President Trump and President Zelensky requested President Stubb to attend a multilateral meeting at the White House. President Stubb explained, "The White House meeting proceeded according to a predetermined script." Leaders of major powers, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, spoke first, and when discussions became tangled, the Italian Prime Minister intervened. He stated that he played the 'wrap-up' role, leaving a strong impression on President Trump at the end of the conversation.
The ultimate goal of Europe is to ensure that the U.S. provides security guarantees for Ukraine. President Stubb believes that the U.S. can contribute in the form of air defense support or intelligence sharing. However, he delineated that this security guarantee would be very different from Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members and requires a military response. This is far from the 'NATO level' demanded earlier by President Zelensky. President Stubb stated, "In the short term, Ukraine's NATO membership is unrealistic, and EU membership is a priority."