Finnish President Credits Trump for Pushing Ukraine Peace Talks

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with actively pushing for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, suggesting that diplomatic efforts are in a better place due to Trump's engagement. Stubb, who has been involved in diplomatic efforts concerning the conflict, stated that Trump has intensified his efforts over the past year and a half to find a peace solution, utilizing negotiators such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Stubb conveyed these remarks in an interview with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. He noted that he and Norway's prime minister have been working behind the scenes, facilitating communication between Ukraine, the United States, and European governments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also met with Trump during the U.N. General Assembly week, has expressed concerns about the possibility of Russia expanding its conflict beyond Ukraine. Zelenskyy warned that the risk of Russian incursions, through drones, missiles, or land operations, is high against countries bordering Russia or Belarus. He suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might seek to create instability elsewhere in Europe if military objectives in Ukraine are not met, as a means to pressure Western nations into reducing their support for Kyiv.

However, Stubb expressed a more measured perspective when asked about Zelenskyy's warnings. "As commander-in-chief in Finland, I sit on all the relevant information and I just don't see a factual basis for it," Stubb said. He differentiated between the direct military conflict in Ukraine and what he described as Russia's broader "hybrid" campaign in Europe, which includes cyberattacks and sabotage.

Stubb emphasized that Finland's calmness stems from its extensive preparedness for a potential threat from Russia, a country with which it shares a long border. He highlighted Finland's mandatory military service, a strong reserve force, advanced artillery, and long-range capabilities. The country has also recently acquired 64 F-35A fighter jets, with the first two having arrived in September. Furthermore, Finland has civilian shelters capable of housing over 4.4 million of its 5.6 million residents.

Finland's security posture has also been bolstered by its membership in NATO, which it joined in April 2023. Stubb stated that Finland's robust defense capabilities and its position within NATO provide a strong deterrent, making a direct Russian attack unlikely. "We feel that we're very prepared, and that gives us a strong enough… deterrent that we don't believe that Russia is going to test a country like Finland," he said.

During his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Stubb also advocated for continued support for Ukraine and urged Elon Musk to extend Starlink coverage to areas near Russian ballistic missile launchers, including within Russia, to aid Ukraine in targeting sites firing missiles at Ukrainian cities.

Stubb also addressed the global security landscape, agreeing with Trump's stance that Iran should not acquire nuclear weapons. He noted the interconnectedness of conflicts involving Russia and Iran, suggesting that Moscow provides intelligence to Tehran used against U.S. bases, while Iran supplies weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine. "The sooner we can end both, the better," Stubb concluded.