Finland’s Stubb emerges as leading EU candidate for possible Russia talks

Finnish President Alexander Stubb is being considered within the European Union as one of the possible figures to represent the bloc in any future direct talks with Russia.

According to a report by Helsingin Sanomat citing sources, EU institutions and member states are in the early stages of discussing preparations for potential diplomatic contacts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Sources quoted by the newspaper said Stubb is regarded as one of the strongest candidates to head the European negotiating team in such a scenario.

The report stressed that no political decision has yet been made on establishing direct contacts with Moscow. Nevertheless, preparations for possible negotiations are continuing, and the Finnish leader is seen as one of the most likely figures to represent the EU in talks.

On May 22, The New York Times reported that representatives of EU member states’ foreign ministries would discuss an “important question” at a meeting in Cyprus next week.

According to the newspaper, participants are expected to debate whether the bloc should appoint a special representative for negotiations with Russia.

The report added that the broader issue under discussion is how Europe should conduct negotiations with Moscow.

Topics likely to be addressed at the meeting include what issues future talks could focus on and which “red lines” the European side would seek to preserve.

The European Union suspended most official channels of contact with the Kremlin after the start of the war in Ukraine.

According to a May 20 report by Financial Times, concerns exist in Brussels that any agreements reached without direct European involvement could produce unfavorable terms for both the EU and Kyiv.

European sources quoted by the Financial Times said discussions over appointing a negotiator for talks with Russia could expose divisions within the bloc.

According to the newspaper, debates are focusing not only on possible candidates but also on the idea of appointing such a representative in the first place.

As previously reported by Politico, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas removed herself from consideration because her anti-Russian stance could lead Russian President Vladimir Putin to reject dialogue.

Kallas said last week that she herself could represent Europe in negotiations.

Sources cited by the Financial Times said former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi were also being mentioned among possible candidates.

Alongside Stubb, the name of former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö has also surfaced in informal discussions.

A senior Ukrainian official quoted by the Financial Times said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would like to see “someone like Draghi” or “a strong incumbent leader” representing the European side.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said any person negotiating with Russia on Europe’s behalf should be credible in the eyes of their own public and capable of contributing constructively to the negotiating process.

Zakharova said such individuals should be “people who are not inclined toward overt nationalism, especially Russophobia”.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that Moscow remains open to dialogue. However, Putin said in remarks made at the end of December 2025 that Europe had “no peace agenda” and was “on the side of war”.

In another statement made in May, Putin said Russia remained open to talks with Europe and named former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as his preferred negotiator for the European side.

Kallas dismissed that idea as “not very reasonable”. She said Schröder was “a lobbyist for Russian state companies” and argued that the former German leader “would effectively be sitting on both sides of the negotiating table”.