Finnish President Alexander Stubbe stated that he does not see himself as a representative of Europe in potential negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his opinion, the leading role in such a dialogue should be taken by the largest European powers — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
As reported by MTV Uutiset, Stubbe noted that the countries of Northern Europe, including Finland and Norway, can support the negotiation process, but rather as assistants and intermediaries in the background.
The Finnish leader reminded that he had previously advocated for the establishment of a European communication channel with the Russian leadership. According to him, any contacts should be coordinated among allies and carried out based on a common position of European states.
Earlier, Stubbe proposed a three-stage model for possible dialogue with Moscow. According to his idea, the first step could be the involvement of the European Commission. If this format proves ineffective, the initiative should be taken up by the so-called "big Euro trio" — France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the absence of results, Europe will have to seek new options for the negotiation process.
Thus, Alexander Stubbe believes that it is the largest European states that should become the main negotiators in a possible dialogue with Moscow, while other EU countries can play a supportive role.
