Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Finland and its partners had taken "three steps forward" during talks in Washington DC between the US President Donald Trump and European leaders.
"Work on security guarantees has begun," Stubb told reporters on Monday. He added that preparations were also underway for a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, to be followed by trilateral talks including the US.
Stubb's visit to the US followed a meeting in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington DC to meet with Trump. He was flanked by European leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Stubb.
Additionally, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also joined the national leaders in showing their support for a united Europe standing behind Ukraine.
"For a country like Finland, it is important to be involved in these kinds of discussions and to have influence. We are a small country, but we share a border with Russia, and Ukraine's perspective is relevant," Stubb said, who received ample praise from Trump during the meeting.
Asked about possible US commitments, Stubb said officials would now begin technical work but that no decisions had been taken.
"We spoke about different options, but President Trump will talk about those later," Stubb said.
He confirmed that Trump's call to Putin during the Washington meetings had been agreed on in advance.
"President Trump thought it would be a good idea to explain the situation and propose a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Of course, we supported this," Stubb said, but added that "it is worth remembering that Putin is rarely to be trusted".
The Finnish president said he hoped to see tangible movement on security guarantees within a week.
"This would be the first time the United States committed to security guarantees for Ukraine. We are cautiously hopeful — but it is not yet time to start drafting peace papers."
Stubb also addressed his earlier comments comparing Ukraine's current position and Finland's in 1944, when Helsinki ceded territory to Moscow at the end of the Continuation War.
"Of course I did not mean that. The situation in 1944 was very different. Finland was alone, we had no options. We must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity in the long term."
Reflecting on Trump's shifting approach, Stubb said a golf round the two shared in March had helped shape Trump's attitude towards Putin.
"I see Trump's focus on solutions. And the most important thing is that the process continues — that we build a path to peace, and that Ukraine and President Zelensky are part of it."
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) also reacted to the news in Washington saying that it was a significant evening and meeting.
"The result moves us forward. As a realist, I want to emphasise this is only if Russia shows it is ready for peace. Now we will see whether Putin is serious about this, whether he wants peace."
Yle sources: Finland will participate in security guarantee for Ukraine
According to a source at Yle, Finland will likely participate in any Ukrainian security guarantees if the United States comes on board to ensure peace in Ukraine.
This could possibly mean sending troops or armed forces to Ukraine if a ceasefire begins.
Up until now, Finland has considered security guarantees necessary, but has left it up to others to contribute at least militarily.
The President and the government have noted the fact that Finland has 1,300 kilometres of the Russian-Nato border to protect.
Finland has also been happy to point out that the largest and most experienced army in Europe is in Ukraine, whose primary task is to defend the Ukrainian border.
Stubb reiterated that while officials and soldiers are working on security guarantees, no decisions have been made regarding US or Finnish involvement.
Article updated 12:00 to add Orpo comment.
