Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre placed a rare joint call to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct. 27, urging de-escalation and what they described as direct discussion to help bring an end to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Nordic outreach and messages
In a joint statement, Stubb and Støre said the conversation was “frank and substantive” and emphasized that Finland and Norway, as neighbors of Russia, have a direct stake in the war’s outcome and in broader European security. They said military and other assistance to Ukraine would continue.
“The discussion (with Putin) was frank and substantive. We are neighbouring countries to Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions,” Stubb said.
Støre added that the leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation, warning that the human and material costs of the conflict will affect generations.
Putin’s readout and response
The Kremlin’s account of the call did not indicate a shift in Moscow’s position. In its readout, Russia said Putin insisted that “achieving a just and long-term peace is possible only if the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation are fully and unconditionally taken into account,” language that echoes previously stated Russian demands.
- Stubb and Støre said they did not speak on behalf of Europe as a whole but acted as leaders of their respective countries.
- Both leaders briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after the call; a Zelenskiy aide said the Ukrainian president received a detailed briefing and thanked them for diplomatic support.
Diplomatic context
The Nordic leaders framed their outreach as a follow-up to talks they helped organize in Oslo earlier this month, which gathered Ukrainian, U.S., U.K., German and other officials but did not include a Russian delegation. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in St. Petersburg after the Oslo meetings to relay their outcome, and officials have said technical-level meetings involving Ukraine, Russia and U.S. negotiators are expected in Abu Dhabi in early November.
The calls mark a break from a pattern among many Western European governments since 2022 of avoiding direct contact with Putin while pursuing sanctions and military aid. Some European leaders voiced concern about the move: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was skeptical and questioned coordination with other capitals, and a European Commission spokesperson reiterated the EU’s aim to secure a just and sustainable peace.
Stubb and Støre said their countries will continue to support Ukraine and that direct diplomacy is necessary given the conflict’s impact on their security and that of the region.
