Stubb and Störe talk to Putin

Since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, it has been rare for Western leaders to speak to Vladimir Putin. The benefit of such talks is considered to be low as the Kremlin leader continues to attack his neighboring country. But now there has been contact. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Störe held a telephone conversation with Putin on their own initiative. Both countries announced this. The Russian presidential office confirmed this.

"The aim of the phone call was to send messages directly to President Putin regarding future negotiations that should help end the war," the two European politicians said.

“The discussion was open and well-founded,” said Stubb. "The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our security and the security of Europe as a whole. Direct talks are needed to end the war," he stressed.

Störe said: "The suffering and destruction will affect entire generations. In the phone call we emphasized how important de-escalation is." The conversation lasted 90 minutes.

According to the two Scandinavian politicians, the results of the meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US mediator Steve Witkoff were discussed last week. Witkoff then held talks with Putin, during which it was agreed to resume three-way talks with Russians, Ukrainians and Americans. The phone call with Putin also referred to this upcoming meeting in Abu Dhabi, Stubb and Störe said.

Both politicians also made it clear that there had been consultations with Ukraine before the conversation with Putin. They are clearly on Kiev's side. Stubb and Störe also emphasized that they were speaking on their own behalf and not on behalf of Europe.

After the phone call, Putin announced that questions about the security of Russia and Ukraine should be discussed in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November after the hostilities have completely ended. For peace, Russia's interests must also be taken into account, he said. According to the Kremlin, Putin pointed to the alleged "confrontational policies" of the EU and NATO states, which led to the prolongation of hostilities. The three heads of state and government “agreed to continue to maintain direct telephone contact,” the Kremlin said.

It was said from Kiev that Zelensky had spoken to Stubb and Störe after the phone call with Putin. Stubb confirmed the conversation with Zelenskyj in an online service and emphasized there that Finland and Norway would continue to support Ukraine and continue efforts for a lasting peace.

There was criticism of the Finnish-Norwegian initiative in Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told DR radio that she was “very skeptical” about the phone call with Putin. In addition, the initiative was not coordinated with other partners. Frederiksen continued that she sees no signs that Russia wants peace with Europe. Instead of acting alone, Europe should stick together.

Norway's Prime Minister Störe said that all partners and allied nations had been informed in advance about the Finnish-Norwegian telephone conversation with Putin.