Finnish President Alexander Stubb met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the Presidential Palace in Finland on Friday. The meeting occurred during Sandu’s visit to Finland. During a press conference, Stubb was questioned about his recent discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the UN General Assembly. Stubb justified the meeting by stating it is "better to talk" even with those who show no signs of de-escalation, referring to Russia’s continued actions in Ukraine. The President underscored the importance of maintaining open communication channels despite the challenging geopolitical climate. The meeting with Lavrov took place despite a lack of demonstrable retreat from Russia regarding the conflict.