World · Europe · 38 mins ago
Finnish and Norwegian leaders speak with Putin about ending Ukraine war
Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister spoke with Vladimir Putin by phone about Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Their call aimed to pass Ukraine’s position directly to Putin ahead of planned peace talks.
The call followed talks in Oslo on October 20, which involved Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a US envoy.
Stubb and Støre said direct discussions with Russia are needed to help end the war and stressed the importance of reducing tensions.
Denmark’s prime minister criticized the move as uncoordinated, saying European countries should act together.
The Finnish and Norwegian leaders said they were speaking for their own countries, not for Europe as a whole.
A Russia-Ukraine-US meeting is expected in Abu Dhabi after November 4, but the sources give no further details about its agenda or participants.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27 about ending the war in Ukraine.
The leaders said they wanted to convey messages directly to Putin about future negotiations and stressed the importance of de-escalation.
They said they spoke for their own countries, not Europe as a whole.
The call followed an October 20 meeting in Oslo and came ahead of expected peace talks in Abu Dhabi involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the initiative, saying it was not coordinated with other European countries.
- Who
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- What
- They discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine and upcoming negotiations.
- When
- October 27, 2026.
- Where
- By phone; the call concerned expected talks in Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- To convey messages directly to Putin about future negotiations and help end the war.
Stubb and Støre
Mette Frederiksen
Coordination
Stubb and Støre
They said they were speaking for their own countries, not on behalf of Europe as a whole.
Mette Frederiksen
Frederiksen said the initiative had not been coordinated with the rest of Europe.
Approach to Putin
Stubb and Støre
They said direct discussions were needed to help end the war and stressed de-escalation.
Mette Frederiksen
Frederiksen said she was very sceptical and questioned what the initiative could achieve.
European unity
Stubb and Støre
They presented the call as part of efforts to advance diplomacy.
Mette Frederiksen
Frederiksen said Europe should stay united rather than act alone.
Stubb and Støre took part in meetings in Oslo with Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
Stubb and Støre spoke by phone with Putin about ending the war and future negotiations.
Trilateral peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States were expected to take place in Abu Dhabi.
- Finnish president
- Alexander Stubb
- Norwegian prime minister
- Jonas Gahr Støre
- Russian president
- Vladimir Putin
- Call date
- October 27, 2026
- Expected peace-talk venue
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Expected participants
- Ukraine, Russia and the United States
6 sources
Finse president Stubb en Noorse premier Støre bellen met Poetin
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Finnish and Norwegian leaders spoke with Putin by phone about ending war in Ukraine
Norway's prime minister, Finland's president in phone call with Putin
What people are saying
The war comes with enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will impact generations. In the call we stressed the importance of de-escalation.
ending the war requires direct discussions
I see no signs that Russia desires peace with Europe – neither in the hybrid warfare taking place every single day, nor in Ukraine, where they are launching fierce and aggressive attacks on a daily basis.