Russia will patiently wait for Finland to become ready for constructive dialogue, but will not request it, according to Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov. In an interview with TASS, Kuznetsov stated, “We will be waiting. We will not be asking for it. We are patient people,” while noting no current signs that Finnish authorities seek to normalize bilateral relations. Despite this, Moscow remains principally open to talks.

Regarding Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s comments on lost Ukrainian territories, Kuznetsov dismissed them as a forced acknowledgment of battlefield realities that only the blind could ignore. He added that Finland’s leadership is attempting to put “a brave face on a sorry business” by claiming Russia has suffered a “strategic defeat” and faces economic collapse. For now, Russia stands ready but unmoving, leaving the next step entirely up to Helsinki.

janus