Why Europe Is Furious as Finland and Norway Break Convention by Speaking Directly to Putin

A call tied to peace talks

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finnish President Alexander Stubb said they spoke with Putin for about 90 minutes. Their joint statement connected the call to planned discussions between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials in Abu Dhabi next month, the first since February.

The two leaders also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had coordinated the call and called it “the right approach.” He welcomed support for diplomatic efforts and said a local ceasefire around Russian-occupied Oleshky could help advance the peace process.

Nordic criticism and caution

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the talks, saying she saw no signs Russia wanted peace. She argued Europe should “stick together rather than going solo.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said other European leaders had not been informed. He told Swedish daily DN that he had low expectations for the conversation, adding that, in his view, Putin was the exception among those who wanted peace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he had urged Stubb and Stoere to exercise “absolute caution and vigilance” in such contacts.

Moscow signals no shift

The Kremlin’s account of the call showed no softening in Moscow’s position. It said lasting peace would require the Russian Federation’s “legitimate interests” to be fully and unconditionally considered.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the call brought nothing new on the Ukraine conflict, which he said was likely to escalate. He also said European countries were seeking a role in the negotiations.