Finnish President Alexander Stubb's presence at the negotiation table is seen as a 'bad omen' for Russia, according to a Russian political commentator. Stubb, who is perceived to have a strong relationship with Donald Trump, is accused by Russia of being involved in an information war. The tensions have escalated following Finland's NATO membership, with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stating that the benefits of the Finnish-Russian relationship have been discarded.
Finland Strikes Back After Russian Attacks
Finland Strikes Back After Russian Attacks
Finnish President Alexander Stubb's presence at the negotiation table is considered a 'bad omen' for Russia's interests, according to a Russian political commentator.
"Surely, they don't like my role," says Stubb, who claims that Russia is waging an information war against him, to Yle.
From Russia's perspective, Finnish President Alexander Stubb's presence at the negotiation table is generally seen as a 'bad omen,' according to Russian political commentator Aleksej Muhin.
"His participation is often deemed catastrophic from Russia's perspective," says Muhin, according to Helsingin Sanomat.
Stubb is believed to have a good relationship with Donald Trump and accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the USA to support him during the meeting with the American president in Washington. Pavel Dubravski, head of a Russian company specializing in political influence, believes that "it is clear that Donald Trump is impressed by the Finnish president" and that "they have a warm relationship."
"By all accounts, he is now considered a Trump confidant acting on behalf of the EU," says Muhin.
"Thrown in the Trash"
Stubb is aware of how he is perceived from the Russian side.
"Surely, they don't like my role if the goal is not to create peace. Of course, we in Finland are actively trying to influence the establishment of peace between Russia and Ukraine," says Stubb to Yle.
Stubb has claimed that Russia is waging an information war against him.
"It means they have some form of purpose with their own communication, and currently, it is partly directed at Finland's president," says Stubb, according to Iltalehti.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was asked in a new interview about how the Russian-Finnish relationship changed after Finland's NATO membership.
"The benefits that Finland received thanks to these special relations with our country were suddenly simply thrown in the trash," says Lavrov, according to Iltalehti.