For Finnish President Alexander Stubb, his state visit to Luxembourg was also a return to familiar surroundings. Speaking to RTL on the second day of the visit, he described the experience as both nostalgic and moving, having previously lived in the country for three years while working at the European Investment Bank.
"Well, it's nostalgic and it's nice. You feel quite honoured", he said. Morning runs had taken him through his old surroundings, while the welcome from the royal family and government had been "quite touching".
Stubb recalled cycling extensively across Luxembourg during his time here. His one regret on this visit was missing the opportunity to ride with former professional cyclist Fränk Schleck – something he hopes to arrange next time.
He described Luxembourg as "one of the most beautiful and actually best countries in the world", praising its modern character. But beyond the personal memories, his return also carried a message about the country's place in the world.
"You've been a beacon of stability in Europe", he said. "And we need countries like Luxembourg in Europe."
Stubb sees shared values as the foundation of relations between Finland and Luxembourg: Both defend international institutions, rules, and norms through the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, while their membership of the euro area adds another common bond.
After 105 years of diplomatic relations, he said, the two countries are as close as they have ever been.
That relationship also rests on personal contacts. Asked about his regular exchanges with Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Stubb explained that modern diplomacy increasingly takes place through messaging services, allowing leaders to discuss important issues directly.
Alongside political cooperation, he identified space technology and quantum computing as promising areas for closer ties.
Ahead of a scheduled visit to the SES headquarters, Stubb highlighted the opportunities offered by a faster, cheaper, and more agile space industry. Finland's satellite businesses and Luxembourg's established sector, he suggested, could cooperate on military applications, civilian uses, and technologies serving both purposes.
"I think we have a competitive advantage because we are quick and agile", he said.
Cooperation would coexist with competition, which Stubb considers a healthy combination. Asked whether Luxembourg could become Europe's space capital, he encouraged the ambition and reiterated a statement from his dinner speech the previous evening.
"Finland and Luxembourg, we're two small countries – so, if we don't achieve world domination, perhaps we can together achieve space domination", he joked.
For Stubb, small countries can exercise influence through information, relationships, and collective action. Reflecting on his and Grand Duke Guillaume's speeches at the United Nations the previous week, he said their messages on trust, multilateralism, and fundamental rights had been strikingly similar, to the point where one could have possibly given the other person's speech.
Finland and Luxembourg share values and broadly aligned interests, he argued, but have limited power individually. The EU and NATO therefore provide their strongest means of influencing international affairs.
At the UN, he placed particular importance on the contacts made around formal proceedings. During five days there, he said, he had taken part in more than 50 meetings, speeches, or interviews, including exchanges with representatives of the Global South.
"At the end of the day, it's about networking", he asserted.
On Ukraine, Stubb argued that Russia had failed to achieve its central strategic objectives: Ukraine had moved towards Europe, NATO had expanded to include Finland and Sweden, and the EU had remained united.
He identified air defence, energy infrastructure, and financing as immediate priorities for supporting Kyiv, alongside continued sanctions against Russia.
Yet maintaining pressure should also leave room for diplomacy. Stubb said Europe currently operates under an American negotiating umbrella, while he remains in weekly contact with US negotiators and almost daily contact with Ukrainians.
"I do think, at some stage, we need to sort of open the mental lock in Europe and understand that pressing the mute button doesn't work", he said.
Any greater European engagement with Moscow, however, should have Ukraine's approval and be considered useful by Kyiv. Stubb said he had received indications that Ukraine wanted Europeans to play a more active role.
He also argued that conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are interconnected, giving Washington an interest in maintaining close European alliances.
As for his own relationship with President Donald Trump, Stubb cautioned against exaggerating his often-reported influence. Even helping shift one issue in 10 would be worthwhile, he suggested.
"In diplomacy, the key is that you're diplomatic in public and then you can be direct in private", the finish president concluded.
