Finland and Norway leaders hold rare direct talks with Putin on Ukraine war

OPA WIRE, Oct 27 (OPA) — Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre initiated the call from Helsinki to address the ongoing conflict and regional stability. While the leaders described the conversation as frank and substantive, they acknowledged significant differences in their respective positions regarding the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

President Putin reiterated his stance that a lasting peace requires the unconditional consideration of Russia’s legal interests, a term he uses to describe his opposition to Ukrainian sovereignty. Prime Minister Støre emphasized the severe human and material costs of the conflict, noting that the destruction will impact future generations. Despite the lack of immediate breakthroughs, all three parties agreed to maintain direct lines of communication.

The call was coordinated following a meeting in Oslo last week between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Nordic leaders, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. President Zelensky confirmed he was briefed on the discussion and expressed appreciation for the support of his Nordic counterparts. The dialogue occurs as European leaders navigate a shifting diplomatic landscape following the Trump administration’s decision to lift specific sanctions on Russian oil exports.

Diplomatic efforts are expected to continue with trilateral talks involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia tentatively scheduled for early November in Abu Dhabi. While the initiative was not coordinated with the broader European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the engagement with the two neighboring states as constructive. Other European leaders, including Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson, have expressed reservations about individual nations pursuing independent diplomatic tracks with Moscow.