The leaders of Finland and Norway phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday 27 October to urge him to end the war in Ukraine, breaking with a longstanding practice among Western European leaders of shunning direct contact with the Kremlin. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke to Putin for about 90 minutes, and then to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

A break with the silent treatment

Norway's government said the call, held in Helsinki, was a follow-up to a meeting in Oslo on 20 October and was held in consultation with Ukraine. Stubb and Støre initiated it to discuss Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end it, and said it was related to upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi, expected to be the first face-to-face talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials since February. Stubb called the discussion frank and substantive, saying that as neighbouring countries to Russia, Finland and Norway had a direct interest in the outcome, and that ending the war required direct discussions. Støre said both leaders stressed de-escalation and continued strong support for Ukraine.

No sign of Kremlin compromise

The Kremlin's readout did not suggest any softening of Putin's position, saying a just and long-term peace was possible only if Russia's legitimate interests were fully and unconditionally taken into account, and blaming EU and NATO policies for prolonging hostilities. The call drew criticism from allies including Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Stubb later said all Western allies had been consulted, adding that Ukraine had sought a new communications channel and Europe could no longer be a bystander. Støre defended the call on Wednesday as an effort to ensure Putin heard European as well as US views, while warning that Ukraine would never sign a deal recognising lost territory.

Sources: Government of Norway and Reuters via SRN News.