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Finland, Norway leaders make first direct call to Putin on Ukraine war
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held their first direct phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine, according to a joint statement from Helsinki. The two leaders said they took the initiative to convey messages about possible future negotiations aimed at ending the war, while reaffirming their support for Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call, which had not been publicly announced beforehand. Stubb described the discussion as open and substantive, stressing that the war's outcome directly affects European security and that direct talks are necessary. Støre emphasized the importance of de-escalation. The call follows meetings last week in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US mediator Steve Witkoff. US-mediated trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US are planned for November in Abu Dhabi, though no exact date has been set. The Kremlin has signaled openness to European involvement.
Source report
The Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (center) and the Finnish President Alexander Stubb (right). Source: Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix/AP/dpa
For the first time, Finland's President and Norway's Prime Minister have spoken directly with Kremlin chief Putin about the war against Ukraine. In doing so, they conveyed messages to Putin regarding possible negotiations.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin by telephone about his war against Ukraine for the first time. "The aim of the call was to convey messages directly to President Putin regarding future negotiations that could contribute to ending the war," the two European politicians said in a joint statement in Helsinki. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call, which had not been publicly announced beforehand by either side.
According to their own accounts, Stubb and Støre took the initiative themselves in order to work for peace and stability in Europe. As supporters of Ukraine, they made clear that they stand firmly on Kyiv's side. They also emphasized that they had not spoken with Putin on behalf of Europe as a whole. They said their two countries were also concerned with predictability in the Baltic Sea region, according to the joint statement.
"The discussion was open and substantive," Stubb said. "The outcome of this war will have direct implications for our security and for Europe's security as a whole. To end the war, direct talks are necessary," he stressed. Støre said: "The suffering and destruction will affect entire generations. In the call, we emphasized how important de-escalation is."
The previous week, Stubb and Støre had also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US mediator Steve Witkoff in Oslo. Witkoff subsequently held talks with Putin, during which it was agreed to resume trilateral talks involving Russians, Ukrainians and Americans.
No Exact Date for the Talks Yet
The negotiations under US mediation are to take place in Abu Dhabi in November. No exact date has yet been set.
The Europeans want to participate in the talks. The Kremlin has now shown itself open to involving Europe, which supports Ukraine with weapons and billions in aid.
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An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists in a WhatsApp conversation that Zelenskyy had spoken with the political leaders of Finland and Norway after their call with Putin.
dpa/coh
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Finland and Norway leaders hold rare joint call with Putin on ending Ukraine war