Finnish President Alexander Stubb spoke on the phone with US President Donald Trump on Monday.

Stubb shared the news on the social media platform X, reported Helsingin Sanomat. The conversation touched on, among other topics, Russia’s war of aggression.

"President Trump’s deadline for a ceasefire is approaching. Finland supports all efforts towards an immediate ceasefire," Stubb wrote.

According to Stubb, the conversation also continued on the topic of icebreakers as a part of security and cooperation among allies.

Recently, President Stubb told Defence Forces' Ruotuväki magazine that he speaks weekly with the US President, aiming to strengthen Finland's role in the Ukrainian peace process and clarify the conditions for peace.

Politicians enjoy festival freebies

A video from the Ruisrock festival showing politicians in high spirits made headlines, sparking public discussion over the costly gifts they receive.

Iltalehti reported that 23 MPs — including Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) and four ministers — attended an invitation-only City of Turku event before Ruisrock and enjoyed the festival in early July, with most bringing guests.

A video from the festival featuring Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala (NCP) and PM Orpo speaking with rap duo JVG has since generated widespread buzz online. In it, artist Ville Galle remarks that the group is "totally drunk," to which a visibly tipsy Multala responds affirmatively. Multala declined to comment to IL about the matter.

According to the City of Turku, ministers Orpo and Multala received invitations to Ruisrock as members of the Finnish Government. Orpo was not yet on vacation then, and Multala's vacation officially began only the Monday after Ruisrock.

Before the event, guests attended a city- and mayor-hosted gathering at the Radisson Blu Marina Palace hotel. Karoliina Hidén, Communications Director for the City of Turku, says the event, held alongside Ruisrock, is part of the city’s ongoing advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

According to IL, the stakeholder event included a buffet lunch with wine and light alcoholic beverages, valued at 65.74 euros per person. There was no limit on alcohol served.

Each VIP festival ticket was valued at 339 euros, but according to Hidén, they came at no extra cost to the city, as Ruisrock annually provides the city with a set number of tickets under a cooperation agreement.

Guests also received 26 euros worth of drink and food tickets for use at the festival, with any additional purchases at their own expense.

Orpo has declared the value of his Ruisrock ticket package as 864.84 euros, while Multala has yet to submit her declaration to Parliament. By the end of July, just over half of the MPs and ministers who received invitation tickets had filed their gift declarations. All declarations must be submitted by the end of August.

MPs must declare gifts, tickets, or travel worth over 400 euros. Invitations below that can go unreported, though some disclose them voluntarily.

Other ministers who accepted Ruisrock tickets include Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen (NCP) and Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala (CD). MP Wille Rydman (Finns) was still serving as Minister of Economic Affairs at the time of his invitation.

Appeal to save videogames

Nearly 60,000 Finns have signed a European Citizens' Initiative focused on the future of video games, Ilta-Sanomat reports.

The "Stop Destroying Videogames" initiative calls on publishers selling or licensing games in the EU to keep them functional and playable even after official support ends. Many titles rely on online connections to publishers, which are often severed after server shutdowns — leaving games unplayable and preventing players from restoring them.

According to the initiative's appeal, shutting down game servers violates their purchase terms, consumer rights and results in irreversible cultural loss

The initiative aimed to gather 9,870 signatures from Finland. With 59,368 Finnish signatures, the country reached 601.5 percent of its national target — the highest proportion in the entire EU.

Nearly 1.5 million EU citizens signed the initiative over a year. After validation, it can advance to the European Commission and potentially lead to new EU legislation.

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