Alexander Stubb Has Made Finland Proud

Finland isn’t supposed to be at the center of world politics — and yet, here we are. President Stubb is rubbing shoulders with the most powerful leaders on earth, shaping the future of Ukraine and the West. Watching it unfold, I can’t help but feel proud.

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President Stubb joined EU leaders in the United States — alongside Zelenskyy — to discuss how to bring Russia’s war against Ukraine to an end. Seeing our president so well respected and prominently featured makes me feel proud — and I know that pride is shared by the whole country.

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America’s Turning Point

This was an incredibly important meeting. I’ve been an open critic of how President Trump has handled Ukraine. He has oscillated between recognizing that Ukraine is the victim and blaming them for starting the war — an outrageous idea with absolutely no truth behind it.

For now, at least, Trump seems to have adopted a fairly positive stance toward Ukraine. If you’ve followed the news, you know how antagonistic he’s often been toward America’s closest allies. Trump is famously mercurial, so who knows how long this “honeymoon” will last. Hopefully he hasn’t reverted to calling Zelenskyy a dictator before this article even goes live.

America remains the leader of the free world — whether we like it or not. It rebuilt Europe after World War II and emerged as the dominant superpower. Fascism was defeated. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, communism was defeated too. Churchill once described fascism and communism as opposites like the North and South Pole: they may have different animals roaming about, but the climate is the same — cold, bleak, and barren.

Fortunately, democracy emerged victorious. The Western world — with all its flaws — is still a far better system to live under than the alternatives. Despite what the activists calling for the “abolition” of capitalism might claim.

That’s why the infamous Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy was so disturbing. It felt like a turning point — as though the United States was abandoning everything it had built and claimed to stand for.

Zelenskyy had refused to leave his country when it was invaded. President Biden had offered him a ride out. He replied: I don’t need a ride, I need weapons. At that moment, when the whole world thought Ukraine was doomed against Russia’s might, he chose to stay and fight. He embodied everything America says it values. Yet sitting in front of the U.S. president, he was shouted down, told to “say thank you,” and almost blamed for the illegal invasion of his own country.

So yes, it’s encouraging to see Trump change his tune. Meeting European leaders to discuss giving Ukraine security guarantees is a complete 180. I hope it continues. I’m not overly optimistic — we may still be just one phone call away from Trump switching sides again — but I hope nonetheless.

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Finland Steps Up

As much as this meeting matters, what fascinates me is how involved our own president has been. Somehow, Stubb has made a small country like Finland a meaningful player on the world stage. Of course, our long border with Russia and his role as commander-in-chief are significant factors. But the deeper story — the one that makes me so proud — is that through language, wit, and historical perspective, he has reshaped how the world sees Finland.

Watch any interview with President Stubb and read the comments. It’s rare to see a politician so widely respected. Even here at home, those who disagree with him on policy still give him credit. No one can deny his influence in shaping world politics — and possibly the future of the transatlantic partnership. It’s fitting, since he openly describes himself as a true believer in that partnership.

After that Oval Office debacle, the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy seemed broken. That was devastating for Europe, because the way this war ends will shape the future of the Western world. I felt hopeless then, as though geopolitics were unraveling into something grotesque. But behind the scenes, who was working to repair the damage? President Stubb.

Not alone, of course — other European leaders played their parts. But Stubb’s role was crucial. Not long after, he hosted Zelenskyy in Helsinki. It was the perfect contrast: warm, respectful, hopeful. They laughed and joked. Finland felt his burden — the weight of carrying his nation’s survival on his shoulders.

When Stubb treated him with such dignity, it felt as though Finland was speaking through him — and even as someone who’s become Finn(ish), I shared in that pride.

Soon after, we learned that Stubb had spent several hours playing golf with Trump. The unannounced meeting stunned Finland. Since when was our small country casually “in the room” with the big powers? They discussed many issues, including Ukraine. Stubb spoke frankly, warning that Putin cannot be trusted, yet managed not to alienate Trump. And then, almost casually, he secured American interest in buying Finnish icebreakers — at a time when Trump seemed hostile to nearly everyone except Putin. Trump even posted on Truth Social about strengthening ties between Finland and the U.S.

And now, at this latest summit, Trump’s tone is completely different. Even after meeting Putin, he speaks of giving Ukraine security guarantees alongside his European allies.

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Why It Matters

Seeing our president at the table with the world’s most powerful leaders is exhilarating. Whenever he speaks, he is articulate, coherent, and brimming with historical depth — which he distills into words anyone can grasp.

Finland knows what it’s like to fight alone. In the Winter War, we faced the Soviet Union by ourselves. No one came to help. It feels fitting that today we refuse to let another nation face a similar struggle alone. And we’re proud that our president is helping to lead that effort.

Thanks for reading.