Melania and Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Sauli Niinistö and Jenni Haukio pictured in 2018.
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President Sauli Niinistö has revealed that he warned former US President Donald Trump about Vladimir Putin’s behaviour during a trilateral meeting in Helsinki in 2018. The remarks came in an interview with German broadcaster Deutsche Welle and were first reported in Finland by Iltalehti.
Niinistö said he gave Trump specific advice on how to approach Putin before their summit.
“I told him that Putin is a fighter. He must be resisted. That is essential, and it does not prevent dialogue,” Niinistö said.
He added that Putin values being treated with respect but does not need to be accepted or appeased.
“He considers it respectful when he is opposed and challenged,” Niinistö said.
He also told Trump that Putin often presents ideas in a modest way, despite having planned them thoroughly in advance.
“Whatever new ideas or views Putin promotes, be cautious unless you are fully aware of their content,” Niinistö advised.
The interview touched on Trump’s recent public remarks about Putin, including a notable shift in tone. In May, Trump for the first time openly accused Putin of killing people and described his behaviour as increasingly erratic. Previously, Trump had avoided direct criticism of the Russian president.
When asked whether this shift marked a change in Trump’s stance, Niinistö said the underlying attitude may not have changed but that the stronger language represented a turning point.
“I think his attitude toward Putin is still the same, but in a way it’s a turning point. We’ve seen signs of it before. Even a more assertive tone in conversation is a kind of turning point,” Niinistö said.
The interview also addressed the diplomatic contact world leaders maintain with Putin. In 2024, then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was heavily criticised for calling Putin, while French President Emmanuel Macron has also had recent phone discussions with him. Trump has reportedly called Putin multiple times.
Niinistö said reactions to these calls have been inconsistent.
“Chancellor Scholz was harshly criticised for calling. When Trump started doing it regularly, and Macron did the same, there was no such criticism. In a way, European opinion followed Trump in this,” he said.
He added that if Trump continues this style of diplomacy, Europe should find a way to be involved.
Niinistö served as Finland’s president from 2012 to 2024 and has been known for maintaining open communication channels with both Western and Russian leaders throughout his presidency. The Helsinki summit in July 2018, which brought together Trump and Putin, was one of the key moments in Finland’s foreign policy visibility on the global stage.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
