Russia’s presidential administration, commonly referred to as the Kremlin, has criticised Finnish President Alexander Stubb after he backed Ukraine’s campaign to carry out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking during a visit to Kyiv, has called for Ukraine’s allies to strengthen its ability to carry out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory, arguing that increasing the cost of the war for Moscow could push Russia back to the negotiating table.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Stubb’s comments were unexpected, particularly because the Finnish president had previously spoken about the eventual need to normalise relations with Russia.
Peskov accused Stubb and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham of belonging to what he called the “party of war,” arguing that their support for Ukraine’s military campaign could prolong the conflict. He also accused Western leaders of misleading their citizens by suggesting that Russia could be defeated militarily.
Finland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military and humanitarian assistance. The country joined NATO in 2023, ending decades of military non-alignment and significantly increasing NATO’s shared border with Russia.
The dispute comes as Ukraine and Russia intensify long-range attacks against targets far from the front lines. Kyiv has increasingly used drones and other weapons to strike Russian energy, logistics and economic infrastructure, while Moscow has continued its attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The Kremlin’s reaction further highlights the growing divide between Moscow and European countries supporting Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its ability to strike Russia, even as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a negotiated end to the war.
The comments come as Ukraine continues to seek greater military support from its European allies amid ongoing Russian attacks and intensified fighting along the front lines. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has increasingly relied on long-range drones and missiles to target Russian military, energy and logistics infrastructure. The strategy has, however, raised concerns among some Western governments over the risk of further escalation with Moscow.
Stubb’s remarks and the Kremlin’s response highlight the widening divide over how Ukraine’s allies should support its war effort, particularly over the use of weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia. While Kyiv argues that such capabilities are necessary to weaken Russia’s military capacity and strengthen its position in any future negotiations, Moscow has repeatedly warned against Western involvement in attacks on Russian territory. With diplomatic efforts to end the war continuing alongside military escalation, the question of how far Ukraine’s allies should go in supporting its long-range campaign remains a major point of tension.
