Finland’s Foreign Minister: With Recent Gains, Ukraine “Holds the Cards” as Russia Signals Talks

Finland’s foreign minister, Elina Valtonen, told Fox News Digital at United Nations headquarters in New York that recent Ukrainian military, political and diplomatic gains have given Kyiv fresh leverage over Moscow and created an opening to revive peace negotiations.

Finland’s Strategic Perspective

Valtonen’s comments carry particular weight because Finland joined NATO in April 2023 and now shares the alliance’s longest border with Russia—about 820 miles—making it one of NATO’s most strategically exposed members. She said Finland’s stance is informed by its history with Moscow and a strong emphasis on deterrence.

"Ukraine certainly is now holding the cards. They have strengthened themselves immensely over the course of the past three, four months, both militarily and politically, diplomatically. And I think this opens a great window of opportunity for actually advancing the peace talks," Valtonen said.

Military Gains and Diplomatic Momentum

Her assessment follows reporting that Ukraine’s top military commander said Ukrainian forces had recaptured more than 600 square kilometres (roughly 230 square miles) of territory in 2026, a notable shift after years of largely stalled front lines. That development has coincided with renewed diplomatic activity, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s stated willingness to freeze lines as a basis for talks; President Vladimir Putin has publicly rejected a direct meeting so far.

Valtonen stressed that, while Moscow has signaled an openness to talks, Russia has shown little readiness to make the concessions necessary to end the war. "So far, Russia hasn’t been willing to make any concessions, and essentially Russia could end the war today if they wanted to, because it was their war in the first place," she said. "So I’m hopeful that this could be the right time to relaunch those talks."

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte prepare to depart after a group photo at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2025.

Conditions For Negotiations

Valtonen argued that any meaningful negotiations require Russia’s willingness to implement and respect a full ceasefire. She emphasized that the decision to accept any settlement—especially any territorial concessions—must remain Ukraine’s alone.

Allies, Deterrence And Defense Spending

Valtonen praised sustained U.S. engagement in efforts to facilitate negotiations and credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with pushing European allies to increase defense spending, a development she said helped correct long-standing imbalances within NATO. Finland is moving quickly to bolster its defenses, with plans to raise defense spending to 3.2% of GDP by 2030, up from 2.5% in 2025.

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Marco Rubio praised Finland and Sweden as important additions to NATO, noting their defence industries and advanced technologies strengthened the alliance.

On Iran And Regional Security

Valtonen also addressed tensions between Iran and Israel and the implications for European security. She said Finland and other European states have supported U.S.-led efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to keep key maritime routes open. The EU recently sanctioned Iran-linked individuals and an IRGC naval unit over threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Commander of the Finnish Army Lieutenant General Pasi Valimaki addresses Finnish conscript soldiers after a military exercise at Pori Brigade in Niinisalo, Finland, Dec. 9, 2025.

"We as individual member states in Europe have definitely been helping the U.S. effort," Valtonen said. "We don’t want to see Iran as a nuclear state. We know what kind of a threat Iran has projected towards the region, especially toward Israel." She added that Finland has joined initiatives led by France and the United Kingdom to help ensure safe, unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz when conditions allow.

European Support And Practical Limits

Valtonen noted Finland has no U.S. bases and therefore no bases to offer or close, but she said the majority of European countries have complied with U.S. requests for assistance during recent tensions, demonstrating allied willingness to support Washington even when NATO as an organization is not formally involved.

"I think that really shows the engagement by NATO allies in this and our willingness to help when the U.S. really needs some assistance," she said.

Reporting note: Several assertions in the interview reflect Valtonen’s analysis and diplomatic perspective; claims about territorial gains and policy shifts are attributed to Ukrainian military briefings and public statements by leaders and were reported by outlets such as Reuters and Fox News Digital.