Russia, and particularly its president Vladimir Putin, is losing the war in Ukraine. This is asserted by Finland’s President Alexander Stubb.

This Tuesday marks four years since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. To mark the anniversary, several European heads of state and government, as well as other high-ranking officials, are present in Kyiv to show their support for Ukraine and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Prime Ministers of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark—Ulf Kristersson, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Mette Frederiksen—have traveled together to the Ukrainian capital by train.

The train journey from Poland, which takes just over ten hours, is essentially the only means of travel for foreign dignitaries visiting the country.

25 Times More Russian Deaths

In addition to Kristersson, Gahr Støre, and Frederiksen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb is also present in Kyiv. During this visit, he is interviewed by the Danish daily newspaper Politiken.

In the interview, Stubb reiterates a message that has become a mantra in the Western world since 2022: Putin is on the way to losing the war.

“The Russian casualty numbers are unsustainable for Russia. On their worst days, one Ukrainian soldier dies for every twenty-five Russians. The fact is that Ukraine is on the way to winning the war,” he tells Politiken.

Alexander Stubb expresses an interpretation of the war that dominates among EU heads of state and government. According to this view, Russia has failed, and the situation gets worse by the day.

“Strategically, it has been a colossal mistake for Vladimir Putin, which neither he nor the Russians, for understandable reasons, want to admit. In addition, the war has been a military blunder, especially in recent months,” says Alexander Stubb.

Putin’s Alleged Strategic Goals

Stubb concretely mentions three points, which are claimed to have been Vladimir Putin’s “strategic goals” with the invasion of Ukraine—and which have all failed.

1. To make Ukraine Russian.

2. Prevent a NATO expansion.

3. Counter European rearmament.

But none of these goals have been achieved. Ukraine remains an independent country, NATO has expanded with Sweden and Finland as new members, and European countries have significantly increased their military spending.

Ebba Busch: Ukraine Will Win

While Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) is visiting Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch (KD) remains in Sweden. On the social media platform X she states that “Ukraine’s cause is our cause.”

Busch repeats the message that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine four years ago was “full-scale” and “unprovoked.”

“Sweden and many countries in Europe have provided humanitarian and military support to Ukraine in several rounds. Sweden will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Busch writes, concluding her post:

“Ukraine is fighting for the freedom of all Europe, and one day Ukraine will emerge victorious from the war.”