Finnish President: Trump is Key to Ending the Ukraine Conflict

Mon Oct 20 2025 01:23:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Finland's President Alexander Stubb asserts that Donald Trump is uniquely positioned to facilitate peace negotiations with Russia over Ukraine, emphasizing the need for firm pressure on Putin.

In a recent BBC interview, Finnish President Alexander Stubb claimed that Donald Trump is the only one capable of persuading Vladimir Putin to negotiate regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Stubb expressed his hope for Ukraine to join the EU and NATO after the war, while discussing the necessity of economic pressure on Russia to achieve peace.

Donald Trump is the only one who can force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table over the war in Ukraine, Finland's president has told the BBC.

Alexander Stubb also stated that Finland would never recognize occupied Crimea as part of Russia, and he advocated for Ukraine to attain EU and NATO membership once the conflict concludes.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today program, President Stubb highlighted the upcoming meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at the White House, noting, I think we can end this war with your help. Trump also mentioned that Putin has agreed to a face-to-face meeting with him in Hungary.

Trump remarked, Putin wants to get it ended. I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended. Now we have to get it done. Zelensky affirmed Ukraine's readiness to negotiate but stressed the need to pressure Putin into concluding the war.

Stubb reflected on a previous conversation with Trump during a golf game, where he advised Trump against trusting Putin. He suggested that the approach to negotiations should focus more on enforcing consequences rather than incentives to bring Russia to the table.

Stubb pointed to the importance of economic strategies in compelling Russia to negotiate, specifically by releasing €200 billion (£173 billion) worth of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as a loan, and limiting oil and gas exports from Russia that have significantly declined due to sanctions.

Citing Russia's struggling economy, Stubb expressed optimism about the evolving geopolitical dynamics, stating that ongoing peace negotiations have likely made more progress under Trump's leadership than in previous years.

He emphasized the need for Ukraine to maintain its independence and sovereignty and ensure that it eventually joins the EU and NATO. Stubb critiqued Russia's military objectives in Ukraine as failures and stressed the importance of a cohesive European response supporting Ukraine's sovereignty.

Stubb concluded with a hopeful outlook for upcoming peace talks, asserting that a ceasefire should be prioritized to halt hostilities, followed by a comprehensive peace process.