Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have held direct phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first known contact between the Nordic leaders and the Kremlin since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The call took place ahead of upcoming peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi and followed a meeting between the two Nordic leaders in Oslo on October 20. Ukraine was consulted during preparations for the conversation, according to the Office of the President of Finland.
Purpose of the call
The purpose of the call was to convey messages from Ukraine directly to Putin. Mr Stubb and Mr Støre initiated the conversation to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, and attempts to promote peace and stability across Europe.
Finland and Norway both share borders with Russia and have remained staunch supporters of Ukraine throughout the conflict. The Finnish presidency said the two countries have consistently worked to promote peace and security in their respective regions.
Leaders' statements
Mr Stubb described the discussion as "frank and substantive," saying: "We are neighboring countries to Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions."
Mr Støre stressed the devastating consequences of the conflict, saying: "The war comes with enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will impact generations. In the call we stressed the importance of de-escalation."
Kremlin's response
The Kremlin said Putin told the Nordic leaders that any lasting settlement would need to take Russia's interests fully into account, while accusing the EU and NATO of pursuing policies that were prolonging the conflict. A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin reiterated Russia would not compromise on its aim of taking control of the whole of Ukraine's Donbas region.
Following the talks with the Russian leader, Mr Stubb and Mr Støre spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and briefed him on their conversation. The three leaders discussed the talks with Putin, with Mr Zelensky subsequently calling for concrete steps towards de-escalation, including in relation to energy and infrastructure.
The call has also prompted a response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who criticised the Finnish and Norwegian leaders for acting without wider European coordination and stressed the importance of maintaining European unity.
