The leaders of Finland and Norway have engaged in a joint phone call with Vladimir Putin, marking a rare instance of direct contact between European leaders and the Russian president as reported by BBC News.
Peace Talks and Regional Initiative
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that the purpose of the call was to communicate messages directly concerning upcoming peace negotiations. Stubb emphasized that ending the conflict in Ukraine cannot be achieved through silence, although neither side indicated that the conversation fundamentally shifted prospects for ending the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
While the Finnish leader described the exchange as frank and substantive, Støre noted that significant differences in perspectives remained with Putin. Both leaders stressed that the initiative was undertaken in their capacities as immediate neighbors of Russia rather than on behalf of Europe collectively. Støre noted that they did not speak for anyone other than themselves.
The 90-minute call originated from Helsinki and was organized to address Russia’s war against Ukraine alongside diplomatic efforts to foster peace and stability across Europe. Støre highlighted the massive human and material tolls of the conflict, noting that the destruction would affect generations. Putin reportedly told the leaders that a fair and lasting peace would only be possible if Russia’s interests and its stance on the root causes of the conflict were fully considered.
Preparation and Broader Diplomatic Reactions
Stubb explained that the conversation was coordinated with Ukraine and the United States following a meeting in Oslo last week between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Nordic leaders, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Preparations are underway for the first trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks since the beginning of the year, which are tentatively scheduled for early November in Abu Dhabi.
Zelensky confirmed that Stubb and Støre debriefed him following the call and expressed gratitude for their active support, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the discussion the right approach. Meanwhile, the initiative drew mixed responses across Europe. The Danish and Swedish prime ministers stated the dialogue was not coordinated with other European partners, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson suggesting that Europe should remain united rather than act independently. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that Stubb described Europe’s position on the upcoming United Arab Emirates talks as moderately optimistic.
Diplomatic dynamics have evolved following shifts in the US stance, as relations between Washington, Ukraine, and European allies experienced friction after the US administration agreed to lift certain sanctions on Russia to allow oil exports to America. Stubb and Støre became the first European leaders to reach out to Putin since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with him in July 2025. Following a subsequent summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, European nations felt sidelined from peace discussions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later noted that having a European negotiator at the table would be positive, describing the recent conversation involving the Finnish and Norwegian neighbors as very constructive and practical.
All three participating parties agreed to maintain their direct phone communication moving forward.
