The President of Finland has revealed exactly how he feels about Donald Trump after spending a day with him in Florida and says the US president left him feeling "hopeful". Alexander Stubb met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, where the pair played golf, shared breakfast, and discussed global affairs.

Speaking about the encounter, Stubb said it was a chance to "socialise" and "talk shop" and insisted he left with a stronger sense of optimism about the future of transatlantic relations and the war in Ukraine. While some European leaders have sounded alarm over Trump’s return to the White House, Stubb appeared calm and pragmatic. He told The Telegraph: "We should calm down, take a sauna, take a deep breath. And engage rather than disengage." The Finnish leader added: "I trust our alliance. I trust the Americans." Stubb also believes Trump is listening to Europe on Ukraine, partly because of his ties with Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

He told The Telegraph: "There’s a sense of urgency on the American side," pointing to a US-backed ceasefire proposal that was accepted by Ukraine and Europe, but rejected by Russia.

"I think we’re very much in a situation whereby the Americans are running out of patience with Putin for understandable reasons. And I think that’s good news for the peace process."

He suggested a clear deadline (April 20) should be set for a full ceasefire.

If Russia fails to agree, he believes the US and Europe should respond with "colossal sanctions".

Trump praised the Finnish president after their meeting, writing on Truth Social: "Just played a round of golf with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland.

"He is a very good player, and we won the Men’s Member-Guest Golf Tournament at Trump International Golf Club."

Stubb was slightly more modest, saying: "We did our best and did well."

As the leader of a NATO country sharing an 830-mile border with Russia, Stubb’s words carry weight.

He said Finland could mobilise 280,000 troops "within weeks" and emphasised the country’s role as a "security provider" within the alliance.

Asked if Finland had joined NATO at the wrong moment, just before Trump’s return, he replied: “There’s never a bad time to join NATO. It is the most successful military alliance in the history of mankind.”

He also dismissed fears that Trump might abandon NATO’s Article V defence pledge.

"The fact that Trump is correctly putting pressure on European states to increase their defence expenditure doesn’t mean that they’re withdrawing from NATO. Quite the contrary."

Stubb’s final message was: "Talk less, do more. Whine less, engage more."