[HIGHLIGHTS] In Finland, Washington affirms its support for Ukraine, the only way to "real peace"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken argued that a strong Ukraine was a "prerequisite" for "a real peace" A negotiated cessation of hostilities would lead to an illusory "Potemkin peace" with little tomorrow, he said. The invasion of Ukraine ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "textbook case of failure [and even a] strategic failure for Russia," he added.

Finland has recently officially joined NATO, a sign of the negative consequences for Russia of the war in Ukraine.