President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb, accompanied by his spouse Suzanne Innes-Stubb, attended the High-level Week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from 22 to 25 September 2025.
On 24 September 2024, the President delivered Finland’s national statement at the General Assembly. In his speech, he emphasised the need for the UN to reform and return to its core tasks of preventing wars, protecting human rights and promoting sustainable development.
“The Unites Nations, as an organization, is in a situation where it must reform in order to maintain its effectiveness. The international community is currently unable to resolve conflicts. The UN is no longer relied upon as the primary guarantor of peace and stability”, President Stubb said.
According to the President, Finland supports the ambitious, system-wide UN80 reform initiative launched by Secretary-General António Guterres.
On Tuesday 23 September, President Stubb delivered a joint statement on behalf of the Nordic states at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. He appealed to Russia to end the war.
“My message to my Russian colleagues around this table is this: It is time to talk about peace. Too many people are dying because of this conflict”, said the President.
“Russia’s war of aggression violates who we are. It violates the core of the UN Charter.”
During the UN High-level Week, President Stubb held 16 bilateral meetings, particularly with leaders from countries in the Global South. He also participated in the Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Additionally, he attended a high-level meeting on advancing peace in Ukraine through the return of Ukrainian children.
The Finnish delegation, led by President Stubb, included Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen and Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.
- Statement by President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, at the General Debate of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 24 September 2025
- Joint statement on behalf of the Nordic states by President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb at the UN Security Council session on Ukraine at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23 September 2025
