Nordic Leaders Hold Rare Phone Call With Vladimir Putin Over Ukraine War

The leaders of Finland and Norway have engaged in direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking a rare instance of direct communication between Western European leaders and the Kremlin since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre initiated the 90-minute telephone call from Helsinki to address Russia's war in Ukraine and discuss diplomatic avenues toward regional peace.

According to statements from both Nordic offices, the primary objective of the conversation was to deliver direct messages regarding future peace negotiations. President Stubb emphasized that ending the conflict in Ukraine would not be accomplished through silence, characterizing the exchange with Putin as frank and substantive. Prime Minister Støre noted, however, that significant differences in views remain between the parties, pointing to the immense human and material costs of the war.

Independent Regional Initiative

Both Finland and Norway share land borders with Russia and clarified that they acted independently as neighboring nations rather than as representatives of the broader European Union or Europe as a whole. Støre confirmed that the leaders did not intend to speak on behalf of anyone other than their respective countries.

The call was arranged following consultations with Ukraine and the United States, stemming from a meeting in Oslo last week involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Nordic leaders, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelensky confirmed he was briefed by Stubb and Støre after the discussion and expressed gratitude for their active support, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the conversation the right approach. Tentative plans are currently in place for the first trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks of the year to take place in Abu Dhabi in early November.

Kremlin and European Reactions

The Kremlin released a statement following the call, reporting that Putin informed the Nordic leaders that a fair and lasting peace settlement is only possible if Russia's legal interests are fully and unconditionally taken into account. Putin also reiterated his views on what he described as the root causes of the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized the discussion as very constructive and practical, noting the relevance of direct dialogue with key neighboring states. All three leaders agreed to maintain direct phone contact moving forward.

Reaction across Europe was mixed, with no official EU response issued. Dialogue was not coordinated with other European partners, prompting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to remark that Europe should maintain a unified stance rather than taking solo actions. Conversely, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that Stubb had shared a moderately optimistic outlook regarding the position of Europe ahead of the planned discussions in the United Arab Emirates. Stubb and Støre are the first European leaders to speak directly with Putin since French President Emmanuel Macron held a conversation with the Russian president in July 2025.