Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has urged Europe to stay committed to supporting Ukraine, warning that a ceasefire is unlikely before spring. Speaking to the press on Saturday, Stubb said European nations must show endurance, or “sisu,” to help Ukraine through winter months while facing Russia’s hybrid attacks and information warfare.
Stubb, who plays a key role as a European liaison between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the stakes are high. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, giving Stubb firsthand knowledge of the threats.
After two wars with Russia in the 1940s, Finland lost 10% of its territory and remained neutral for decades. Only after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine did Finland join NATO. Stubb leverages his relationship with Trump, whom he has played golf with and speaks to regularly, to advocate for Ukraine’s security needs.
“I can explain to President Trump what Finland went through, the situation on the battlefield, or how to deal with Putin. If he accepts one out of ten ideas, that’s good,” Stubb said.
The president spoke at a military base north of Helsinki, where he observed volunteers practicing defense drills in freezing temperatures. Volunteers evacuated mock casualties while wearing jackets displaying the word “sisu,” highlighting Finland’s cultural value of resilience and grit.
Stubb stressed that Ukraine must address allegations of corruption, including kickbacks and embezzlement, to prevent Russia from exploiting the scandal. Despite this, he encouraged European leaders to boost financial and military support for Kyiv, which faces slow territorial gains by Russian forces.
“I’m not very optimistic about achieving a ceasefire or peace negotiations this year,” Stubb said, adding that progress might be possible by March. He outlined three major steps toward a ceasefire: providing security guarantees for Ukraine, rebuilding the economy, and agreeing on territorial matters.
To pressure Russia, Stubb suggested using Europe’s frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine and increasing military support to counter Moscow’s aggression. He praised Trump for sanctioning major Russian energy companies, but said more must be done to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to target Russia’s defense industry.
Stubb also addressed recent U.S.-Ukraine negotiations. Trump denied Ukraine’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could allow Kyiv to strike deeper into Russia, though Ukraine currently lacks launch platforms. Stubb indicated that discussions for additional U.S. firepower are ongoing.
Trump’s shifting approach to Putin and Zelenskyy has been challenging for European leaders. Stubb said patience and realism are key. “You can’t have illusions about what you would like to see happening. We need security guarantees for Ukraine. How can we get that? We need a ceasefire. How can we achieve it?” he said.
Despite the difficulties, Stubb praised Zelenskyy’s leadership during wartime. “Leading a country in war is existential. You learn a lot about people in that situation,” he said.
Stubb highlighted his unique role in communicating between Trump and Zelenskyy. Golf and long-standing connections with the U.S. president have allowed him to act as a bridge. Regarding Putin, Stubb said only Trump should negotiate directly with the Russian leader, leaving the EU without a direct channel.
Europe continues to face Russian threats, including drone incursions, fighter jets, sabotage, and propaganda. “The line between war and peace has been blurred,” Stubb said. He warned that Russia is attempting to destabilize Europe and cause panic.
The Finnish president concluded that Europe must respond with calm resilience. “Be Finnish,” he said. “Be cool, calm, collected, and have a little bit of that ‘sisu.’”
