Image: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva

Finland might host a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, according to Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, but it won't be any time soon. That was the message from Niinistö at a hastily-arranged press conference in Helsinki called the day after he'd attended a panel discussion with the Russian leader in Arkhangelsk.

During that debate, hosted by the International Arctic Forum, Putin had agreed with the moderator that a meeting with the new US president in Finland would be a good idea.

Finland takes over the chairmanship of the Arctic Council for a two-year term in May. Niinistö said on Friday that a summit of the Arctic Council had been discussed with several other member states, but nothing had been agreed yet.

"The idea that a summit could happen at this notice is impossible," said Niinistö.

Niinistö said that he had been working towards a summit of the Arctic Council in Finland for more than a year, but nothing concrete had yet been agreed.