Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia continue today. Hanna Smith, research director at the Center for Hybrid Competence, considers the situation difficult.
Research Director of the Hybrid Competence Center Hanna Smith is skeptical about today’s negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Smith commented on the situation in Ukraine in an interview with ‘s morning and radio’s First Morning.
Representatives of Ukraine and Russia are due to negotiate today. According to the Russian representative, a ceasefire is being discussed during the talks, in addition to which the intention is to agree on securing humanitarian aid work.
– Maybe hope should not be raised too high. The situation is really difficult. Russia’s demands are such that Ukraine cannot accept them. But good to negotiate. If even a small ceasefire is achieved, then that too is something, Smith says in ‘s morning interview.
Smith believes Russia still has desires for negotiating tables. Desires to negotiate may stall Western opposition.
– This war has perhaps been one entity, how Russia is thinking of strengthening its own hand in the negotiations. Maybe Russia saw its weaknesses at the negotiating tables before the war, so the war was taken as a new tool, Smith estimates.
– But will the West join? How easy is it to sit at the same table with Putin after this? That is a different question then. Russia would probably want that.
“The situation in Finland and Sweden is being monitored in Moscow”
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday night Finnish time that the Russian president Vladimir Putin continue to exacerbate the situation. In this context, Thomas-Greenfield also listed threats related to Finland and Sweden
Spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Marija Zaharova has previously stated that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO would have military and political consequences.
Smith believes that security policy discussions between Finland and Sweden are now also of interest in Moscow.
– Although war is the subject to which attention is now being paid, Moscow will also have time to monitor the situation in Finland and Sweden. Yes, it is clearly in their interests that the direction of the debate is going.
According to Smith, an attack on Finland has changed from impossible to possible.
– A couple of weeks ago, it was thought that NATO membership would not make Russia go under military attack. Now it is in a different position and situation.
However, the threat is not immediate.
– As long as Russia has such a strong military presence in Ukraine, it will not threaten Finland, Smith estimates.
You can discuss 4.3. until 11 p.m.