Leaders from Finland and Norway held a rare phone call with Vladimir Putin to discuss potential paths to end the war in Ukraine.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a phone call with Vladimir Putin. This conversation marks a rare moment of contact between the Russian leader and European officials.
Also, the leaders aimed to explore future talks to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Their offices noted that they did not act on behalf of all European nations.
Meanwhile, Putin criticized EU and NATO policies after the call. He claimed these actions prolong the war that began with the 2022 invasion.
After that, the Nordic leaders spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He expressed gratitude for the active support from both Finland and Norway.
Next, Stubb and Støre explained why they contacted Moscow. Both nations a border with Russia and want to restore regional stability.
The Norwegian prime minister highlighted the massive human costs of the conflict. He warned that the destruction will impact people for many generations.
Still, the dialogue remained frank and substantive. Stubb emphasized that the outcome of this war directly affects security across the entire European continent.
Later, the leaders continued discussions that began in Oslo last month. These talks involve a push to resume three-way negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.
As a result, the parties plan to meet in Abu Dhabi this November. Zelensky discussed these diplomatic formats with his Nordic counterparts to ensure future defense and security.
However, not all European allies support this move. Denmark’s leader expressed skepticism because the call did not include coordination with other regional partners.
Finally, Moscow continues to blame European weapon supplies for the war's length. Yet, a Kremlin spokesperson recently suggested that a European mediator could be useful at the peace table.