The leaders of Finland and Norway have held a rare direct phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, initiating a conversation aimed at exploring future negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The offices of Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre confirmed the 90-minute discussion took place on Tuesday from Helsinki.
Both Nordic governments emphasized that they were not acting on behalf of other European leaders or the European Union as a whole. Støre stated that all allies had been informed of the call in advance, though the move drew mixed reactions from neighboring countries.
Frank but Divergent Views
Stubb described the conversation as frank and substantive, noting that the outcome of the conflict would have a direct impact on security across Europe. Støre added that the war carries enormous human and material costs that will impact generations. Despite the diplomatic outreach, Støre acknowledged that the call revealed significant differences in views between the Nordic leaders and the Russian president.
Putin used the opportunity to criticize what he termed confrontational policies by the European Union and NATO, arguing that these approaches were prolonging the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The Kremlin stated that Putin insisted any just and lasting peace must account for Russian interests. Both sides agreed to maintain direct phone communication for future discussions.
Regional Reactions and Diplomatic Context
The initiative has sparked debate among European partners. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed skepticism, telling Danish broadcaster DR that the dialogue had not been coordinated with other Nordic nations. In contrast, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that Stubb had informed him that Europe’s position on upcoming talks in the United Arab Emirates remained moderately optimistic.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with the two Nordic leaders immediately after their conversation with Putin. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the active support of his Finnish and Norwegian counterparts. He noted that part of their discussions with Putin centered on trilateral negotiations scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi.
This contact marks the first time European leaders have spoken directly with Putin since French President Emmanuel Macron held a conversation with him in July 2025. The diplomatic push comes as relations between the United States and some European allies have cooled, particularly after the US administration softened its stance on certain Russian exports.
Last week, Stubb, Støre, and Zelensky met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo. Following those talks, Ukraine, Russia, and the US agreed to resume three-way negotiations that had been paused for months. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently indicated that having a European negotiator at the peace talks table would be beneficial, even as Moscow continues to accuse the EU of fueling the conflict through weapons supplies.
Source: BBC
