Stubb to meet with Trump today to discuss war in Ukraine

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the meeting with US President Donald Trump would cover several key topics, noting that his previous discussions with Trump had focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine and NATO-related issues.

According to the Finnish president’s office, the working visit will last from Thursday to Friday. The White House also confirmed the visit earlier this week. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM Washington time (10:00 PM Kyiv time).

Stubb’s office clarified that the October 9 meeting will center on bilateral relations between Finland and the United States, trade and economic cooperation, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will also join the talks.

Stubb on Ukraine and Russia

A few weeks ago, Stubb said that the security guarantees discussed by the Coalition of willing countries would entail commitments from European signatories to fight Russia if Moscow launches another attack on Ukraine.

He added that the military component of these security guarantees for Ukraine is already nearly finalized, with partners now working on the political framework.

Earlier in October, Stubb also stated that Trump is expected to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin, shifting from a "carrot" to a "stick" approach. According to him, it’s only a matter of time before the US strikes back at Putin in a way that will be particularly painful for the Kremlin.