 "Stubb spoke to AP Saturday at a military base north of the capital Helsinki. (File Photo)")
A ceasefire in Ukraine is unlikely before the spring, and European allies must maintain their support despite a corruption scandal engulfing Kyiv, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told The Associated Press. He said Europe would need “sisu” – a Finnish term for endurance, resilience and grit – to face the coming winter as Russia continues hybrid attacks and an information war across the continent.
Stubb’s position as a key European interlocutor between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy places him at the centre of diplomatic efforts. Finland shares a 1340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia and, after losing about 10% of its territory to Moscow in the 1940s, abandoned decades of military neutrality to join NATO following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Stubb said he uses his good relationship with Trump – the pair have played golf together and speak frequently – to present Finland’s perspective. “If he accepts one out of 10 ideas, that’s good,” he noted.
Speaking at a military base north of Helsinki on Saturday, Stubb watched Finnish volunteers train in freezing conditions, wearing a jacket bearing the word “sisu”. He said Zelenskyy must address allegations of kickbacks and embezzlement swiftly, warning that the scandal benefits Russia. Even so, he urged European leaders to increase financial and military backing for Kyiv as Russia makes creeping gains on the battlefield.
Ceasefire conditions and pressure on Moscow
Stubb said he was “not very optimistic” about achieving a ceasefire or starting peace talks this year, though he added it would be positive to “get something going” by March. He identified three central questions on the path to any ceasefire: security guarantees for Ukraine, reconstruction of its economy and an understanding on territorial claims.
He said achieving peace would require Trump and European leaders to intensify pressure on Russia and on President Vladimir Putin, who “basically wants to deny the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine”, aims unchanged nearly four years into the conflict. Stubb pointed to the hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets held in Europe as potential collateral to support Ukraine, alongside increased military pressure on Moscow.
He praised Trump for sanctioning Russian energy companies Lukoil and Rosneft in October, calling it “an excellent job”, but said further steps were needed to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to strike Russia’s “military or defence industry”. Last month Trump denied a Ukrainian request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, which could theoretically allow deeper strikes into Russia, although Kyiv currently lacks launchers or platforms to use them. Stubb indicated that Ukraine continues negotiating with the US for additional firepower.