Nordic Leaders Hold ‘Frank’ Ukraine Peace Call With Putin

Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister held a direct call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss a possible settlement in Ukraine, with the Kremlin saying the three leaders agreed to keep speaking by phone.

Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre initiated the conversation after consulting Kyiv.

Their intervention comes ahead of planned negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. in Abu Dhabi next month.

“The discussion was frank and substantive,” Stubb said. “Ending the war requires direct discussions.”

According to the Kremlin, Putin reiterated that a settlement depended on fully accommodating Russia’s interests.

Its account said the leaders agreed to maintain “direct phone contacts.”

Kyiv Consulted Before Outreach

Stubb and Støre, who were together in Helsinki for the call, subsequently spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky said the Nordic leaders had pressed Putin for concrete steps to reduce attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other infrastructure.

The outreach follows meetings involving U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Putin in St. Petersburg last week after discussions in Oslo with Zelensky, Stubb and Støre.

It was the first direct exchange between Putin and senior European leaders supporting Kyiv since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with him in July last year.

The Kremlin said the participants welcomed an agreement to restart three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv in the first half of November.

There is still no indication that Putin is prepared to negotiate directly with Zelensky.

European Role Draws Scrutiny

Finland and Norway are seeking influence over negotiations whose consequences would extend beyond Ukraine.

Both share borders with Russia and argue that their security gives them a direct interest in the outcome.

“We are neighboring countries to Russia,” Stubb said. “The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security.”

The two leaders said their purpose was to deliver messages to Putin about future negotiations. They also made clear that they were not representing Europe collectively.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen nevertheless challenged the initiative, telling broadcaster TV2 that other European leaders had not been consulted and expressing skepticism about the approach.

Moscow has also been guarded. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said after last week’s meetings that Russia would assess whether Finland and Norway could help resolve the conflict.

Security Disputes Remain

The diplomatic effort comes as Ukraine faces mounting budget demands and shortages of air defenses ahead of further expected Russian winter attacks.

UN monitors recorded 328 civilian deaths and 2,105 injuries in Ukraine in September, an 85% increase in civilian casualties as Russian drone and missile strikes intensified.

Ukraine has meanwhile continued strikes deep inside Russia against military and industrial targets.

Regional Russian authorities reported at least 11 deaths in border regions since Friday.

Territory and security guarantees for Kyiv remain central obstacles to a settlement.

Stubb has also identified Europe’s postwar security arrangements as unfinished business.

He and Støre oppose Russian demands for a wider NATO retreat from eastern Europe and reject Moscow’s attempts to determine Ukraine’s foreign policy choices.