Only Putin benefitted from that Trump-Zelenskyy clash, President of Finland Alexander Stubb

"Let’s see what it looks like, and who can join in. Diplomacy has many different forms, and we’ll see what comes out of it", Alex Stubb, President of Finland

Before stepping into the high-level talks at Lancaster House, Finnish President Alexander Stubb reflected on the diplomatic turbulence of the past 72 hours in an interview with the BBC.

Addressing the public confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office, Stubb was blunt: “At the end of the day, there was only one winner of that exchange, and that was Vladimir Putin.”

However, he emphasized the importance of moving forward: “The conversations I’ve had since it all unfolded are pretty much about letting it go. Let’s get back on track. Let’s see what diplomacy can do.” He expressed optimism that the London summit would mark “the first baby steps back to the table.”

Stubb acknowledged that NATO is “shifting” under Trump’s leadership, with the U.S. taking a “more transactional” approach, but insisted the alliance remains “alive and kicking.” He also reaffirmed his confidence in U.S. commitments to NATO, stating, “I have heard no language suggesting the United States is not committed to Article Five.”

Finally, he praised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron for demonstrating “the kind of leadership we need in Europe right now” by spearheading discussions on Europe’s role in a broader peace process.

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