Stubb Responds to Surprising Russian-American Peace Proposal
At the recently concluded G20 summit in Johannesburg, Finnish President Alexander Stubb made headlines with his candid remarks regarding the unexpected Russian-American peace proposal aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
The 28-point plan has sparked significant debate, with Stubb characterizing it as both incomplete and confusing. “We Europeans and our allies were not briefed on this plan before its unveiling, even though we had some inkling about its contents,” he stated in an interview with Yle, noting the lack of prior communication from the Trump administration.
The proposal, which many perceive to be disproportionately favorable to Russia, has raised eyebrows across Europe. Stubb confirmed that he had been in dialogue with U.S. officials, including several messages directed toward President Donald Trump. “In response, we’ve spent the last 48 hours collaborating with our allies to refine the proposal. We’ve essentially treated it as a starting point and now possess a clear plan of our own,” he elaborated.
During the summit, European leaders, along with representatives from Japan and Canada, convened for emergency discussions about the escalating situation in Ukraine. Stubb emphasized his ongoing conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who publicly expressed gratitude to Finland for its unwavering support via social media.
Interestingly, Finland found its name included in a special annex of the peace proposal—a revelation that took Stubb by surprise. He speculated that this inclusion may stem from Finland’s robust defense capabilities and the high level of trust it has garnered within NATO.
This year marks Finland’s inaugural appearance as a guest at the G20 summit, and much of Europe’s diplomatic efforts have been consumed by the ramifications of the leaked Trump proposal. As the clock ticks, Ukraine has until Thursday to respond formally to the contentious plan.