Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called Russia's war in Ukraine a "complete strategic failure for Vladimir Putin," in a scathing attack on the Russian leader.
Speaking on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Stubb said Putin's war in Ukraine has only served to strengthen European integration, unity and investment in defense.
"This war has become a complete strategic failure for Vladimir Putin," Stubb said. "He expanded NATO, made Ukraine European, and forced European countries to increase their defense budgets. And now we are asking ourselves whether we are capable of defending ourselves. My answer is yes."
Moscow has also tried to prevent NATO expansion, but the war has prompted previously neutral nations, including Sweden and Finland, to join the alliance - effectively doubling the size of Russia's border with the Western military alliance.
"I think we are actually in the process of creating a stronger NATO than we have seen since the end of the Cold War. This is actually NATO 3.0," he added.
The Finnish president added that Moscow has "reduced its sphere of influence", stating that "countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus" are now "distancing themselves from the so-called Russian empire".
After almost four years of fierce fighting, Moscow's forces have made only minor gains on Ukrainian soil at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dead Russian troops.
Stubb claimed that Russia has suffered around one million casualties, noting that its territorial advances in eastern Ukraine, since the first offensive, only amount to around 2 percent of Ukrainian land.
He also noted the difficulties in the Russian economy, estimating that inflation could reach around 30 percent this year.
Interest rates remain at 15 percent, economic growth has stalled and financial reserves have been depleted by the long war in Ukraine, he added.
"There is no growth, no reserves, and no way to pay the soldiers after the war is over," Stubb said, noting that Russian citizens are increasingly frustrated by economic issues in the country, many of which are driven by the wartime economy.
Mr Stubb's comments came ahead of a meeting between Putin and Donald Trump's peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, on Thursday.
The Ukraine peace talks will be the 7th such meeting between Mr Witkoff and Putin since Trump returned to office last January - but neither appears to have made significant progress towards peace.
The Finnish president doubts that Moscow will approve the 20-point plan being worked out by Washington and Ukraine as part of agreements to end the war, stressing that it is vital to continue strengthening support for Ukraine. /Telegrafi/
