Stubb, Madise discuss bilateral ties, European defence in Helsinki

President Alexander Stubb and his new Estonian counterpart Ülle Madise on Wednesday met in Helsinki and discussed various issues including bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries, said the President Office in a press release.

They also discussed the security situation in the region, European defence, NATO cooperation, and Ukraine.

“Today (Wednesday) I received the newly inaugurated President of Estonia Ülle Madise at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. … Our neighbour Estonia is a close and trusted partner for Finland. We are united by culture, language, strong economic ties, and many other bonds,” Stubb wrote in a post in his social media platform X after the meeting.

“Sisu, a word Estonians and Finns share, captures the substance and strength of our bond. Today (Wednesday) in Helsinki, I met President of Finland Alexander Stubb to discuss our close cooperation, European security and support for Ukraine,” Madise wrote in her X after the meeting.

Earlier on the day, Estonia's newly elected President Madise, who was sworn into office on Monday arrived in Helsinki for her first visit to Finland as the President.