Former Finnish Leader Advocates for Direct EU Dialogue with Putin

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has urged the European Union to establish direct communication lines with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to advocate for an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Niinistö expressed his concerns during an interview with Finnish state broadcaster Yle on Monday, stating, «It strikes me as somewhat ridiculous that Europeans refuse to engage with the war criminal Putin, while Trump manages to have conversations with him, and we merely await reports of their discussions.»

He added, «At the same time, there’s a growing concern that decisions may be made without Europe being involved.» Niinistö suggested that it would be prudent for European leaders to engage in such discussions themselves, similar to Trump.

Niinistö held the presidency of Finland from 2012 to 2024, during which he facilitated the country’s NATO membership following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine.

In response to Niinistö’s call for the EU to directly connect with Putin, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen argued that it is not an appropriate time for such discussions, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Kremlin’s seeming disinterest in sincere peace talks. She emphasized to reporters that engaging in dialogue for its own sake is not the objective.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen supported Valtonen’s viewpoint, asserting that any future interactions with Russia should be coordinated at the EU level.

«We are more effective when we present a united front,» Orpo is reported to have said.

Earlier this year, Finnish President Alexander Stubb remarked that Helsinki should begin to «mentally prepare» for resuming relations with Russia once the conflict in Ukraine concludes. In response, the Kremlin indicated that Putin is open to establishing «mutually beneficial and respectful» relations with Finland, should Helsinki express a similar desire.