Finland PM Rejects 'Off-Ramp' for Putin, Says Russia Must Leave Ukraine

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Friday, October 7, rejected the idea of an “off-ramp” for Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to remarks made on Thursday by US President Joe Biden.

In a Thursday evening speech to fellow Democrats in New York City, Biden said Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons presented the biggest nuclear risk to the world since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. He said his administration was “trying to figure out” the Russian leader’s “off-ramp” to avoid “the prospect of Armageddon.”

Biden said: “Where — where does he get off? Where does he find a way out? Where does he find himself in a position that he does not not only lose face, but lose significant power within Russia?”

Marin, speaking to press on Friday morning before a European Council meeting in the Czech Republic, was asked about Biden’s idea of an “off-ramp” for Putin to create “a way out of the conflict.”

Marin replied: “The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That’s the way out of the conflict.” Credit: European Union via Storyful

Video transcript

SANNA MARIN: But I think it's very important that Finland and Sweden would join NATO simultaneously, at the same time, because it's an issue for the whole northern part of Europe-- the whole security environment of the northern Europe.

- Your reaction, please, to President Biden's comment last night, that Vladimir Putin may need an "off-ramp" to avoid a nuclear Armageddon.

SANNA MARIN: A what?

- President Biden said last night that Vladimir Putin may need an "off-ramp" to avoid a nuclear Armageddon.

SANNA MARIN: Off-ramp? What do you mean?

- From the conflict. A way out of the conflict.

SANNA MARIN: Way out of the conflict? The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That's the way out of the conflict. Thank you.

[CHUCKLES]

But I think it's very important that Finland and Sweden would join NATO simultaneously, at the same time, because it's an issue for the whole northern part of Europe-- the whole security environment of the northern Europe.

- Your reaction, please, to President Biden's comment last night that Vladimir Putin may need an "off-ramp" to avoid a nuclear Armageddon.

SANNA MARIN: A what?

- President Biden said last night that Vladimir Putin may need an "off-ramp" to avoid a nuclear Armageddon.

SANNA MARIN: Off-ramp? What do you mean?

- From the conflict. A way out of the conflict.

SANNA MARIN: Way out of the conflict? The way out of the conflict is for Russia to leave Ukraine. That's the way out of the conflict. Thank you

[CHUCKLES]