Ukraine War: Putin speaks for the first time with Stubb and Støre about Ukraine

The Europeans also want to have a say in the new Ukraine negotiations between Kiev and Moscow under US mediators. Now Kremlin boss Putin receives an important call from Helsinki before the talks.

Helsinki/Moscow. In a phone call that was not agreed upon among Europeans, Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke for the first time with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin about his war against Ukraine. “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 in Helsinki. The phone call had not been publicly announced by either party beforehand.

Stubb and Støre also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US mediator Steve Witkoff in Oslo last week. Witkoff then held talks with Putin, during which it was agreed to resume three-way talks with Russians, Ukrainians and Americans. The Kremlin then also appeared open to involving the Europeans, who support Kiev with weapons and billions in aid.

After the telephone conversation with the politicians, Putin announced that questions of 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 out the confrontational policies of the EU and NATO states, which are leading to a prolongation of hostilities.”

Putin informed Stubb and Støre about the local ceasefire that began that night around the front-line town of Oleshky in the Kherson region, which was occupied by Russian troops. A humanitarian corridor is planned there to supply people with food and medicine and to enable them to escape. The Kremlin said all three politicians had also agreed to remain in direct contact by telephone.

As Russia's neighbors, Finland and Norway say they are committed to ending Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been going on for a good four and a half years.

“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. Støre said: "The suffering and destruction will affect entire generations. In the phone call we emphasized the importance of de-escalation."

According to their own statements, Stubb and Støre took the initiative themselves to work for peace and stability in Europe. As supporters of Ukraine, you are clearly on Kiev's side. They also emphasized that they did not speak to Putin on behalf of Europe as a whole. Both of your countries are concerned not least with predictability in the Baltic Sea region.

Stubb and Støre also informed Zelenskyj about their conversation with Putin. He was grateful for this because they made it clear to Putin “that concrete steps to de-escalate our energy supply and infrastructure are necessary,” said Zelensky. Before the fifth winter of war, Russia is massively attacking Ukraine's energy facilities with missiles and drones in an attempt to persuade the country to give up.

In Denmark, however, there was criticism of the Finnish-Norwegian initiative. Danish 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.