Finnish President Alexander Stubb's New Year's speech attracted attention not only because of its content but also because of the appearance of the head of state. Finnish media drew attention to the president's unkempt tie during a televised speech.
As Iltalehti notes, viewers noticed Stubb's tie was twisted and looked wrinkled. Journalists emphasized that this is not the first time such an incident has happened. A similar detail was captured on camera during the Finnish leader's official visit to Estonia in 2024.
The New Year's address itself is dedicated to the foreign policy agenda. The President said that, in his assessment, the relationship between Finland and Russia has changed irreversibly, but did not give a specific explanation for this argument. He also touched on the topic of conflict in Ukraine, noting that, in his opinion, the prospects for peace have become closer and promised to support Kiev in issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The context of the statement has added resonance in the context of Moscow's recent statements. Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recalled Finland's military past and said that the years of neutrality had not erased the pages of history of cooperation with Nazi Germany. He also criticized the Finnish president's anti-Russian rhetoric.
Stubb's New Year's speech, intended as a political signal, was ultimately remembered by the Finnish audience, partly because of a detail that, according to the press, did not correspond to the situation at the time.
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