 Although the Finns attempted to re ‑ open negotiations with Moscow by every means during the war , the Soviets did not respond . In early January , Finnish communist Hella <unk> contacted the Finnish government . She offered to contact Moscow through the Soviet Union 's ambassador to Sweden , Alexandra Kollontai . <unk> departed for Stockholm and met Kollontai secretly at a hotel . Soon Molotov decided to extend recognition to the Ryti – Tanner government as the legal government of Finland and put an end to the puppet Terijoki Government of Kuusinen that the Soviets had set up . 
