In a bid to advance diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre engaged in separate phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. These discussions come ahead of planned peace talks, with Stubb’s office noting the focus on upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi.
During his conversation with Putin, President Stubb emphasized that the war’s outcome would have direct implications for Finland’s security and the broader European region. He described the exchange as frank and substantive, underscoring the necessity of direct discussions to end the conflict. President Zelenskyy’s aide confirmed that he also spoke with both Nordic leaders following their talks with Putin, reiterating Ukraine’s ongoing support from Finland and Norway.
The discussions unfolded against a backdrop of recent diplomatic engagements, including meetings in Oslo with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and the Nordic leaders, as well as talks between Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg. The Kremlin has expressed a willingness to resume U.S.-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine in November, potentially marking the first such talks since February.
While the Nordic leaders clarified that their discussions do not represent a unified European stance, they affirmed their countries’ longstanding support for Ukraine. As the international community watches closely, these diplomatic efforts highlight the urgency of finding a resolution to the conflict, which continues to pose significant security and humanitarian challenges.