Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he engaged in a 'good and honest' conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, where they discussed collaborative preparations and addressed "possible Russian provocations."

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared on X that he updated Stubb on the current battlefield situation and emphasized the critical need for air defense systems. He expressed that a just and sustainable peace would be achievable with robust support packages for Ukraine and stringent sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy also mentioned ongoing discussions with the United States, highlighting an American proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, which he stated has been consistently refused by Russia for 36 consecutive days. He stressed that only principled actions could transform such diplomatic disregard into a path toward peace and expressed gratitude to Stubb for his support, counsel, and dedication to peace efforts.

Finland has been an outspoken supporter of Ukraine, particularly since its accession to NATO, amid increased regional tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.