Helsinki, 'Stubb and Store had a conversation with Putin'

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. The Finnish presidency confirms this by explaining that "the objective of the phone call was to convey a direct message to Putin in relation to future negotiations. The phone call is linked to the next round of talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi". Stub and Store - it is explained - spoke "as leaders of their respective countries, and not on behalf of Europe".

“The discussion was frank and substantive,” Stubb emphasized.