On October 27, President of Finland Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre held a telephone conversation with the leader of Russia. The parties discussed the course of the war against Ukraine and possible ways to end it. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy while commenting on the results of the negotiations. According to him, prior to the call, Stubb and Støre consulted with Kyiv to convey Ukraine's position ahead of the peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
De-escalation in Energy and Infrastructure
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the Finnish and Norwegian leaders 'clearly told the Russian leader that real de-escalation steps are needed regarding our energy and infrastructure.' The head of the Ukrainian state pointed out that these specific areas became key during the telephone conversation held on October 27. According to RBC-Ukraine, this statement was made as part of the president's official commentary on the outcome of diplomatic contact between the Nordic countries and Moscow.
Preparation for a Trilateral Meeting in November
Zelenskyy also reported that during the conversation with European leaders, preparations for a trilateral meeting scheduled for November at the level of teams from Ukraine, the US, and Russia were discussed. The President of Ukraine did not disclose the details of the format and venue of the upcoming talks, but confirmed that work on their organization is already underway. This element of the diplomatic agenda, according to him, became one of the practical results of Stubb and Støre's contact with the Russian leadership.
Special Interest of Countries Bordering Russia
Commenting on the motivation of the Finnish and Norwegian sides, Zelenskyy noted: 'Finland and Norway, as countries bordering Russia, have a special interest in correct and reliable security solutions.' Thus, the President of Ukraine pointed out the geopolitical conditionality of the position of the two Nordic states that directly border Russia and for whom regional stability is a matter of national security.
Formats of Interaction with European Partners
According to Zelenskyy, the conversation with Stubb and Støre also touched upon various formats of Ukraine's interaction with European partners that can be useful 'for further support of diplomacy, defense, and joint security.' The president did not specify which particular cooperation mechanisms were considered, but emphasized their multi-faceted nature—ranging from diplomatic support to collective security issues.
Kremlin's Reaction and the Context of Abu Dhabi Talks
Following the telephone conversation on October 27, the Kremlin disclosed details of the Russian leader's conversation with the heads of Norway and Finland. The details voiced by the Russian side are not provided in the submitted materials. The context for this diplomatic contact was the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi, for which, according to Zelenskyy, Finland and Norway prepared by coordinating their position with the Ukrainian side in advance.
