**Ukraine‘s EU and NATO Membership Non-Negotiable, Says Finnish President**
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has emphasized that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and NATO is non-negotiable. He believes these alliances are essential for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and security.
Stubb spoke at the Munich Security Conference on February 16. He outlined a three-stage process that he thinks Ukraine must go through to achieve peace. The first stage involves initial negotiations, where Ukraine receives military aid and increased international pressure is applied on Russia. This could include expanded sanctions and asset freezes.
The second stage would be a ceasefire. Stubb stressed that this would not mark the beginning of a peace process but rather serve as an interim measure. He suggested that a ceasefire should include border demarcation, international monitoring, and humanitarian agreements like prisoner exchanges and the return of kidnapped Ukrainian children.
If Russia launches another attack, Ukraine should immediately be granted NATO membership as a deterrent, Stubb said.
**No Compromises on Alliances**
Stubb also stressed that any resolution must uphold Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He recalled how Finland maintained its sovereignty after World War II but was forced to cede some territory and accept foreign policy restrictions. In Ukraine’s case, he made it clear that no such compromises should be made on its future alliances.
**Ukraine Must Be at the Table**
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote that peace cannot come at any cost. Ukraine must be at the table in these negotiations because anything less would accept Putin’s position that Ukraine is not a real nation.
**Other Developments**
Zelensky‘s arrival in the UAE has started a regional tour, including official visits to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The U.S. delegates did not offer any security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, current and former senior Ukrainian officials said.
The U.S. administration hopes to achieve a ceasefire agreement by Easter, which falls on April 20, sources told Bloomberg.