On April 29, 2025, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told The New York Times that Ukraine would likely have to make territorial compromises that reflect the current situation on the battlefield in order to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Russia.

"He acknowledged that [Ukraine] would have to make compromises on territory that would reflect the realities of the battlefield," — the publication quotes Stubb.

At the same time, he stressed that Finland will never recognize these territories as Russian, insisting on preserving the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Stubb's statement has caused a stir. As Euronews notes, the Finnish president is actively involved in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, including talks with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In March 2025, Stubb met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where he discussed the need to set a deadline for a ceasefire, suggesting April 20 as a possible date. He also expressed the opinion that Trump is losing patience with Russia's procrastination in negotiations, which could push for tougher measures, including new sanctions.

Stubb, whose country shares an 1340-mile border with Russia, has repeatedly stressed that peace is only possible with maximum pressure on Moscow. Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 after decades of neutrality, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, having delivered 23 military aid packages and signed a security agreement.

The idea of ​​territorial concessions has been controversial, however. Stubb has previously opposed the “Finlandization” of Ukraine – a model in which a country retains independence but loses some autonomy under pressure from a more powerful neighbor, as Finland did in the 1940s, when it ceded 10% of its territory to the USSR.