Europe should engage directly with Russia, says former Finnish president
Posted: 12th November 2025
Anadulo Ajansi – November 11, 2025 – Europe should engage directly with Russia, says former Finnish president
Sauli Niinistö calls it an ‘absurdity’ that Europeans declare they won’t engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin
In an interview with Finnish broadcaster Yle, Niinistö criticized Europe’s reluctance to engage directly with Moscow.
“Europe could also benefit from talking directly with Moscow,” he said, adding, “In a situation like this, it might be wise to have those discussions oneself as well. Just like Trump did.”
He noted that while European leaders avoid direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has been in contact with him, and Europe then reacts to the outcomes of these conversations.
“(French President Emmanuel) Macron is probably the last one to have called, and before that, (former German) Chancellor Olaf Scholz about a year ago. And he was heavily criticized. I defended him, and I still see a certain absurdity in the fact that Europeans say they will not talk to Putin, a war criminal. But Trump talks to him, and then we go and listen to what you said,” he said. …