Kremlin questions Finland's role in Ukraine peace talks

The Kremlin expressed doubt on October 21 about whether Finnish President Alexander Stubb's participation in Ukraine peace talks would be constructive if he merely repeats the general European position. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that such repetition would unlikely constitute a positive contribution. Peskov's comments came after an October 20 meeting in Oslo between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which also included Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. US President's special representative Jared Kushner joined remotely due to illness. Following the meeting, Zelensky announced Starlink operations would resume within 48 hours and that Kyiv is ready for trilateral leader-level talks and to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow reciprocates. Stubb called the talks a step in the right direction, with "elements of peace" to be presented in St. Petersburg.