Finland and Norway leaders speak with Putin about ending Ukraine war

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a joint call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 27 October about efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The leaders said they had consulted Ukraine before the call, bringing two of Russia’s Nordic neighbours into direct talks as diplomatic efforts continue.

Stubb called the discussion ‘frank and substantive’. He said the war’s outcome would directly affect Finland, Norway and wider European security, and argued that ending it required direct discussions. Støre said the two leaders had stressed the importance of de-escalation, pointing to the war’s enormous human and material costs and its consequences for generations.

How Ukraine was involved in the Nordic leaders’ call

After the call, Zelenskyy thanked Stubb and Støre for briefing him, according to POLITICO. He said they had made clear to Putin that practical steps to ease the conflict were needed concerning Ukraine’s energy facilities and other infrastructure. Zelenskyy also said preparations were being discussed for a planned November meeting at team level involving Ukraine, the United States and Russia.

Russia’s account and the European response

The Kremlin said the leaders exchanged views on resolving the conflict. It also blamed what it called the ‘confrontational’ policies of EU and NATO countries for prolonging the fighting, according to POLITICO. That was Moscow’s characterization of the war, while Stubb and Støre described their own purpose as seeking a way to end it.

The initiative drew criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said she was ‘very skeptical’ and that it had not been coordinated with other European countries. Her objection underscored the distinction between a call by two neighbouring states and a negotiating position agreed across Europe. No agreement from the conversation was announced.