Europe should engage directly with Russia if US policy diverge: Stubb

President Alexander Stubb said Europe should engage directly with Russia if U.S. policies on Russia and Ukraine no longer align with European interests, local media reported on Monday, citing an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, said Xinhua.

"It is time to start talking to Russia," Stubb was quoted as saying, while noting that it remained unclear when such talks would begin and who would lead them.

Stubb said European leaders had discussed who should establish contact with Russia, but no decision has been made.

"Whether it will be a special envoy or a group of leaders, we will see," he said, stressing the need for close coordination among European countries.

"Everything must be coordinated among us, especially between the E5 - Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Poland - and the Nordic and Baltic countries, which are on the border," Stubb said.

Stubb also cautioned against expectations of a quick peace settlement, saying he did not believe peace would be "on the table" this year.

The interview was conducted on Friday at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki and published by Corriere della Sera on Monday, according to Finnish media reports.