Finland’s Stubb told Firstpost that Ukraine must decide how to end the war with Russia but should “learn from our mistake,” recalling Finland’s post-war loss of sovereignty to Moscow. He praised Donald Trump’s “carrot and stick” approach to ending the conflict while ruling out Finland as a venue for Trump-Putin talks.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb told Firstpost in an interview that Ukraine must decide for itself how to end the war with Russia but should “learn from our mistake” — referring to Finland’s post-war compromise with the Soviet Union that cost it part of its sovereignty.
“We lost our sovereignty after the war with the Soviet Union. We lost 10 per cent of our territory to Moscow,” Stubb said, recalling Finland’s experience after World War II. “We want Ukraine to have sovereignty and the right to preserve its territory. Statehood must be based on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
Asked if that meant Ukraine should cede land to Russia, Stubb replied firmly, “Not at all. We just want Ukraine to learn from our mistake. But first, there has to be a ceasefire.”
On Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, Stubb said, “Trump has two gears — carrot and stick. He is sincerely trying to end the war. He tried carrots in Alaska and during phone conversations. Trump felt Putin promised something, but he deceived him. The stick approach has been US sanctions and secondary sanctions. He’s a tough negotiator.”
Stubb ruled out Finland hosting a Trump-Putin meeting, saying, “No, that’s not our position. It has to be neutral territory. They should meet at the G20 in Johannesburg. And if not Trump-Putin, then perhaps a Zelensky-Putin meeting.”
On Trump’s recent hosting of European leaders in Washington — criticised by some for its optics — Stubb said, “He wanted to keep the process alive and finalise security guarantees. I don’t look at optics in foreign policy. I liked being in the Oval Office with other European leaders.”
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