Finnish President Alexander Stubb, one of the most bellicose leaders in the European Union, said Monday that it was time for Europe to start direct talks with Russia.

Stubb was an early advocate of Finland’s accession into NATO and has used his good relationship with President Donald Trump to communicate the hawkish position vis-à-vis the Russia-Ukraine war to Washington. Despite his support for Ukraine, Stubb had begun flirting with the idea of eventually opening up talks with Russia in recent months. In a Monday interview with the Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the Finnish president said the time to start talking to Russia is now.