Trump is preparing a whip for Putin, he has 14 sticks in his bag, - Stubb

In his opinion, it is only a matter of time before the US strikes Putin where it will really hurt, Politico reports.

“Seeing that carrots rarely work with Russians, he has moved on to the stick. Now the only question is how big that stick will be,” Stubb said.

When asked what exactly could be that stick for Putin, Stubb joked that it could be a “club,” hinting that Trump has many tools of influence in his arsenal.

“President Trump is working, if not around the clock, then daily to end the war. He has 14 clubs in his bag,” Stubb said.

Among the possible options being considered are tougher sanctions, including secondary ones, higher tariffs, and even more active use of American weapons capable of striking targets deep inside Russia.

“You don't have to read The Art of the Deal to understand how President Trump negotiates. It's an unconventional but effective style,” Stubb noted.

He warned that if Putin continues to kill civilians in Ukraine after the planned meeting with Trump in Alaska on August 15, the US president will be forced to respond harshly.

Stubb called on Ukraine's supporters to be patient.

“I have had the opportunity to work quite closely with President Trump over the past few months. Perhaps optimism is sometimes intuition, but the facts on the ground now indicate that we are moving in the right direction,” the Finnish president said.

Regarding Europe's role in supporting Kyiv, Stubb strongly backed moves to speed up Ukraine's EU accession by finding a way around Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's veto.

"I personally welcome any decision-making mechanism that provides greater flexibility and fewer opportunities for blockage. And this has never been more relevant than in the case of Ukraine. I always say that we should not underestimate the ability of European Commission and Council of Europe lawyers to find creative solutions in such situations. Ukraine's membership in the European Union is of strategic importance. The sooner this happens, the better," he said.

Photo: journalist.today.