DW: President Niinisto, we are speaking after a third meeting between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey this year that again failed to produce results to end the war. Do you see any chances for diplomacy to broker at least a ceasefire in the near future?

Sauli Niinisto: What we've seen for more than three years is the continuation of the war. It seems that neither Russia nor Ukraine is going to achieve a complete victory. So if nothing else, we must try to reach an agreement through diplomacy.

It looks like the European leaders do not know whether they should call Vladimir Putin or not. Germany's then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Putinin 2024. President Emmanuel Macron of France called him a few weeks ago. US President Donald Trump called him many times. Do you see any reason to continue phone conversations with Putin?

Chancellor Scholz was heavily criticized after he called. But when Trump started doing it regularly, and then Macron took the same step, he was not criticized. So, in a way, European opinion followedPresident Trump here. I guess Trump will continue his kind of diplomacy, and in my opinion, if he does, Europe has to be involved somehow.

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