Donald Trump is losing patience with Russia, says Finnish leader

Alexander Stubb says Putin’s intransigence could pave way for ‘bone-crushing’ sanctions package

Donald Trump is losing patience with Vladimir Putin, Finland’s president has said after a lengthy conversation with his US counterpart.

Alexander Stubb said Trump and Putin, who are scheduled to speak by telephone on Monday, must not decide the fate of Ukraine over the head of its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Stubb also said there was a chance, depending on how the phone call goes, that US senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal will introduce into Congress this week a sanctions package to make Russia’s finances untenable. Stubb has been in near daily contact with Graham, who describes the sanctions package as “bone-crushing”.