Stubb Called It The “most Difficult” Issue In Resolving The War Between Russia And Ukraine

• 21.10.2026, 22:01

The President of Finland also spoke about the formats of the negotiations.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that negotiations on a peaceful resolution to the Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine will take place either bilaterally (between Russia and Ukraine) or in a trilateral format—with the participation of the United States. His remarks were reported by Helsingin Sanomat.

“The negotiations will take place either between Russia and Ukraine or between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Bilateral or trilateral talks are necessary to discuss the most complex issue related to territories,” the Finnish president said in a speech at the University of Helsinki.

Stubb also noted that the current task is to send a signal to Russia that will help advance the peace process.

Security guarantees for Ukraine and the formation of a new European security architecture are also on the agenda, Stubb pointed out. At the same time, he stated that “there will be no return to the previous transatlantic relations.”

He emphasized that this is not a temporary phenomenon linked solely to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, but rather a long-term shift. Stubb described the U.S. as a “transactional player”—a superpower that will act based on its own national interests, without relying on traditional multilateral structures. According to him, the world is entering an era of the return of spheres of influence.

The day before, talks were held in Oslo between U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stubb, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. From Oslo, Whitecoff traveled to St. Petersburg, where he met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.