Finland’s president told the UN Security Council that Trump’s social media post about Ukraine regaining its lost territory was "a clear message that it’s time to end this war".
Sept 24, 2025
In a speech to the UN Security Council in the early hours of Wednesday, Finnish time, President Alexander Stubb welcomed an apparent shift in tone on Ukraine and Russia by his US counterpart Donald Trump.
Stubb noted that since Ukraine has accepted a ceasefire proposed by Washington and backed by the EU, "there’s only one country that doesn’t want a ceasefire and that is Russia".
However, he said, "today could be a game changer", pointing to Trump’s statement, "which I didn’t think left any space for interpretation – it was a clear message that it’s time to end this war".
After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said in a social media post that Ukraine, with the support of the EU, "is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form". He also told a reporter that Nato allies should shoot down Russian airplanes if they enter their airspace, calling Russia a "paper tiger".
Stubb called on all countries that are directly or indirectly supporting Moscow’s attack on Ukraine to stop. He cited his predecessor, the late Finnish president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, as saying "what humans begin, they can also end". This year, Stubb has emerged as a conveyor of EU views on Ukraine to Trump, with whom he has bonded over golf.
Stubb also took aim at the Security Council itself, saying has failed in its mission to maintain international peace and security.
He argued that the root cause of the war in Ukraine is Russia’s failure to comply with the UN Charter amid Moscow's efforts to violate Ukraine's sovereignty. Stubb said that the solution to the situation is a two-step process: a ceasefire followed by peace negotiations. He urged the Council to use its power to end the war.
General Assembly address later on Wednesday
Stubb is to deliver Finland’s national statement at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday evening, Finnish time.
While in New York this week, he has also attended the UN High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Meeting on Advancing Peace in Ukraine through the Return of Ukrainian Children. He and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb also attended a reception hosted by Trump and his spouse Melania Trump.
Stubb leads a Finnish delegation in New York which includes Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen and Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala – all three from his own former party, the National Coalition – as well as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio from the Finns
Party.
Stubb made his first speech to the UN General Assembly a year ago, about six months after taking office.
yle.fi
Sept 24, 2025
In a speech to the UN Security Council in the early hours of Wednesday, Finnish time, President Alexander Stubb welcomed an apparent shift in tone on Ukraine and Russia by his US counterpart Donald Trump.
Stubb noted that since Ukraine has accepted a ceasefire proposed by Washington and backed by the EU, "there’s only one country that doesn’t want a ceasefire and that is Russia".
However, he said, "today could be a game changer", pointing to Trump’s statement, "which I didn’t think left any space for interpretation – it was a clear message that it’s time to end this war".
After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said in a social media post that Ukraine, with the support of the EU, "is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form". He also told a reporter that Nato allies should shoot down Russian airplanes if they enter their airspace, calling Russia a "paper tiger".
Stubb called on all countries that are directly or indirectly supporting Moscow’s attack on Ukraine to stop. He cited his predecessor, the late Finnish president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, as saying "what humans begin, they can also end". This year, Stubb has emerged as a conveyor of EU views on Ukraine to Trump, with whom he has bonded over golf.
Stubb also took aim at the Security Council itself, saying has failed in its mission to maintain international peace and security.
He argued that the root cause of the war in Ukraine is Russia’s failure to comply with the UN Charter amid Moscow's efforts to violate Ukraine's sovereignty. Stubb said that the solution to the situation is a two-step process: a ceasefire followed by peace negotiations. He urged the Council to use its power to end the war.
General Assembly address later on Wednesday
Stubb is to deliver Finland’s national statement at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday evening, Finnish time.
While in New York this week, he has also attended the UN High-level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Meeting on Advancing Peace in Ukraine through the Return of Ukrainian Children. He and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb also attended a reception hosted by Trump and his spouse Melania Trump.
Stubb leads a Finnish delegation in New York which includes Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen and Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala – all three from his own former party, the National Coalition – as well as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio from the Finns
Party.
Stubb made his first speech to the UN General Assembly a year ago, about six months after taking office.
Stubb to UN Security Council: Trump's statement "could be a game changer" on Ukraine war
Finland’s president told the UN Security Council that Trump’s social media post about Ukraine regaining its lost territory was "a clear message that it’s time to end this war".
yle.fi
