Stubb and Støre Call Putin: What Was Discussed and How Kyiv Reacted

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin to discuss prospects for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. According to Stubb's entourage, the call was a continuation of the 'Ukraine-US-Europe' meeting held in Oslo on October 20, and consultations with the Ukrainian side were held right before the conversation with the Russian leader.

Purpose of the Call: Delivering Kyiv's Signals

According to the Finnish side, the main purpose of the conversation was to convey 'Ukraine's signals regarding upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi directly to President Putin.' It is emphasized that Stubb and Støre participated in the conversation 'as leaders of their countries, not as representatives of Europe.' During the call, the Norwegian and Finnish leaders noted that their countries 'have acted and continue to act stably and predictably in the Baltic Sea region and northern territories, always promoting peace and security,' and added that 'ending the war requires direct negotiations.'

First Direct Contact with European Leaders in a Year

According to Bloomberg, this is Putin's first direct contact with top European leaders—Kyiv's allies—since Emmanuel Macron spoke with the Russian president in July of last year. The publication notes that Ukraine's European partners are seeking a seat at the table regarding European security, and Stubb and Støre justified their role by pointing to their countries' shared border with Russia. 'We border Russia as nations. How the war ends will affect the security of Finland, Norway, and Europe as a whole,' the leaders stated, emphasizing the 'importance of de-escalation.'

Kyiv's Reaction and Kremlin Confirmation

Kyiv reacted promptly: Presidential Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn told journalists that after the conversation with Putin, the European leaders spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the Kremlin, Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov also confirmed the fact of the telephone conversation between the Russian president and European leaders. Thus, both sides publicly acknowledged the contact itself, although details and outcomes of the conversation are revealed primarily through statements by the Finnish and Norwegian sides.

From Oslo to Abu Dhabi: What's Next

Recall that on October 20 in Oslo, Zelenskyy held talks with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and European partners; Trump's second envoy, Jared Kushner, did not attend due to illness but joined by phone. Following the meeting, Witkoff went to Russia, where he handed Putin documents containing ideas on ending the war. Following this trip, it was announced that the trilateral negotiation format would resume—though not at the leaders' level. Representatives of Ukraine, the US, and Russia are expected to meet in the second half of November to discuss steps toward peace, likely in Abu Dhabi.