Finnish President: Only Trump Can Bring Putin to Peace Talks

Sat Oct 18 2025 23:56:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

President Alexander Stubb believes that Donald Trump is the only leader capable of negotiating peace with Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing Finland's stance against recognizing Crimea as part of Russia.

During a recent BBC interview, Finnish President Alexander Stubb asserted that Donald Trump holds the key to forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table for a resolution to the war in Ukraine. Stubb stated that Finland will not recognize Crimea's annexation by Russia and called for Ukraine to join the EU and NATO after the conflict. He highlighted the necessity of applying pressure on Russia for peace negotiations and expressed optimism about the progress under Trump’s leadership, particularly in the last few months.

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 emphasized the importance of Ukraine becoming an EU and potentially NATO member once the war concludes.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today program, Stubb mentioned the upcoming meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at the White House, indicating that this meeting could be pivotal in addressing the ongoing conflict. He remarked, 'I think we can end this war with your help.'

Trump, having already expressed willingness to meet Putin face-to-face, stated on Friday that both Putin and Zelensky desire to bring the conflict to an end. Stubb highlighted that while Trump has previously utilized diplomatic 'carrots' in dealing with Putin, a more stringent approach is now necessary to compel Russia toward negotiations.

Stubb's confidence in Trump's abilities shines through as he believes that significant progress in peace discussions has been made during Trump’s current term compared to the preceding three years. He underscored that Finland would stand firm in its non-recognition of Crimea and the self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine.

Effective measures, such as providing Ukraine with frozen Russian assets as a loan and enforcing stronger sanctions on nations that import Russian oil and gas, were recommended by Stubb to enhance pressure on Moscow. He noted that Russia's economic condition, particularly under sanctions, has worsened considerably.

Going forward, Stubb hopes for a bi-phased peace process, starting with an immediate ceasefire, paving the way for a comprehensive peace negotiation in the near future.