Finland and Norway Hold Rare Talks With Putin Ahead of New Ukraine Peace Negotiations

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre have held rare direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a significant diplomatic intervention by two European supporters of Ukraine ahead of renewed negotiations aimed at ending the war.

The telephone conversation took place on Tuesday, October 27, with Stubb and Støre calling Putin from Helsinki.

Both governments confirmed the discussion in official statements, saying the initiative was coordinated with Ukraine and intended to communicate messages directly to Moscow before planned talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

The contact represents an unusual departure from the approach adopted by many Western European leaders, who have largely avoided direct engagement with Putin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Stubb described the discussion as frank and substantive, arguing that direct communication was necessary because the outcome of the war would affect the security of Finland, Norway and Europe as a whole.

Støre emphasised the enormous human and economic consequences of the conflict and said the leaders had pressed for steps to reduce tensions.

The two governments reaffirmed their continuing support for Ukraine and stressed that their involvement did not represent a negotiating mandate from the European Union or Europe as a whole.

The call followed an October 20 meeting in Oslo involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside the Finnish and Norwegian leaders.

Those discussions formed part of preparations for another round of negotiations expected in the United Arab Emirates in November.

Following Tuesday's conversation with Putin, Stubb and Støre also spoke with Zelenskyy, according to a Ukrainian presidential aide cited by Reuters.

The Kremlin confirmed the telephone contact but offered no indication that Russia had softened its principal negotiating demands.

In its account, Moscow maintained that any lasting settlement must take full account of what it described as Russia's legitimate interests.

The Kremlin also accused European Union and NATO countries of prolonging the conflict through their policies towards Ukraine.

The differing accounts underline the substantial distance that remains between the parties over the conditions for ending the war.

The Nordic initiative has also exposed differences among European governments over whether direct contact with Putin is appropriate at this stage.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the decision to engage Moscow independently, arguing that European countries should maintain a united approach.

Her comments reflect broader concerns that separate diplomatic initiatives could complicate efforts to establish a common European position during negotiations.

Finland and Norway share land borders with Russia and have longstanding security interests in the Baltic Sea region and northern Europe.

Finland joined NATO in 2023, ending decades of military non-alignment, while Norway has been a member of the alliance since its establishment.

Both countries have provided substantial support to Ukraine throughout the conflict.

Their decision to speak directly with Putin comes as European governments seek to maintain influence over negotiations increasingly shaped by Washington and Moscow.

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, fighting in Ukraine continues.

A limited humanitarian ceasefire began around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky on Tuesday, but the arrangement does not apply to the wider war, and Russian attacks continued elsewhere.

The Finnish-Norwegian call therefore represents a potentially important reopening of direct European communication with the Kremlin rather than a confirmed breakthrough towards peace.

No new ceasefire, territorial agreement or formal settlement emerged from the conversation.

The next major test will be whether the planned Abu Dhabi negotiations produce measurable progress towards ending hostilities while addressing Ukraine's security and sovereignty.