Finnish President Joins Zelensky–Trump Talks in Washington Amid Ukraine Peace Debate

Finnish President Alexander Stubb will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday, as Europe seeks clarity over the future of Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.
The meeting comes days after Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump claimed progress toward a peace deal. He suggested Ukraine must give up claims to Crimea and agree not to join NATO as conditions for ending the war—terms rejected by Zelensky, who insists Ukraine’s constitution forbids territorial concessions.
Stubb’s participation, encouraged by European leaders, is intended to provide diplomatic backing for Ukraine and ensure Europe has a voice in negotiations. The move follows a virtual conference of European leaders who agreed that any peace agreement must include enforceable security guarantees for Ukraine.
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky reaffirmed that peace requires Russia to halt attacks and that any territorial discussions must involve both the US and Russia. He emphasized that Ukrainians have fought and died defending Donetsk, Crimea, and other contested regions.
The Washington meeting will begin with a bilateral session between Trump and Zelensky, followed by a broader discussion involving European leaders. Finland’s involvement is seen as symbolic, reflecting both its NATO membership and its border with Russia.