Putin in conversation with leaders of Finland and Norway, according to Reuters, stated rejection of compromises on Donbas

On October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. According to RBC-Ukraine citing Reuters and Sky News, during the conversation, the parties discussed the progress of the war against Ukraine and possible ways to end it. According to a Reuters source, the Russian leader told his European colleagues that Moscow does not intend to compromise on an issue he linked to the goal of controlling the entire Donbas.

Moscow's position: "no compromises" on Donbas

As reported by the Reuters source, Putin emphasized to Stubb and Støre that Russia will not abandon its position regarding Donbas and will not make concessions on this issue. The European interlocutors, according to the same source, pointed out the need to achieve a "just" peace. Thus, the telephone contact recorded a divergence in formulations: Moscow insists on the immutability of its territorial demands, while the Finnish and Norwegian sides focus on the principle of a fair settlement.

Reaction of European leaders after the conversation

According to Sky News, after the telephone contact, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that he had the impression that Moscow is "carefully preparing" for the upcoming meeting in Abu Dhabi. This assessment indicates that European capitals view current telephone contacts as part of preparation for a larger-scale negotiation format reportedly scheduled in the UAE.

Consultations with Kyiv before the conversation

Before getting on the line with the Russian leader, the heads of Finland and Norway, as noted in the material, held consultations with Kyiv. The purpose of these contacts was to convey Ukraine's position ahead of the peace talks in Abu Dhabi. This indicates that the Scandinavian and Finnish sides tried to synchronize their negotiating line with the Ukrainian one before direct contact with Moscow.

Context: preparation for negotiations in Abu Dhabi

Later that day, the Kremlin revealed details of the Russian president's telephone conversation with the leaders of Norway and Finland. The combination of statements — from the Reuters source about Moscow's position on Donbas, through the reaction of the Norwegian prime minister about preparations for the meeting in Abu Dhabi, to reports of consultations with Kyiv — paints a picture of multi-level diplomatic contact in which each party broadcasts its own priorities. Further dynamics will depend on how closely the parties' positions coincide at the venue in Abu Dhabi.