---
title: "\"Open Game\": Zelenskyy Reveals Norway and Finland's Strategy on Talks with Putin"
description: "Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine knew in advance about the preparation by the leaders of Norway and Finland for talks with Putin and was informed of their goals. Kyiv is discussing the agenda of the trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi and security guarantees."
date: 2026-10-28T08:42:17.658Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-ukraine-knew-norway-finland-talks-putin
tags: [ukraine, zelensky, putin, norway, finland, peace-talks, abu-dhabi, security-guarantees]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Open Game": Zelenskyy Reveals Norway and Finland's Strategy on Talks with Putin

![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking at an international event wearing a black t-shirt.](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/28/zelenskyi-ukraina-znala-o-peregovorah-norvegii-i-finlyandii-s-putinym/zelenskyi-ukraina-znala-o-peregovorah-norvegii-i-finlyandii-s-putinym-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Zelenskyy reported that on the night of October 27, he spoke with the prime ministers of Norway and Finland, who were preparing for a conversation with Putin.
- According to the president, after morning negotiations with Putin, Stubb and Stere conveyed that Russia is inclined toward a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi in November.
- Kyiv views security guarantees as a key issue and awaits new proposals from the Trump team regarding the Brussels meeting format.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv knew in advance about the preparation by the leaders of Norway and Finland for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and was informed of the goals of this conversation. According to him, on the night of October 27, he spoke with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. These contacts, the head of state emphasized, were a continuation of the meeting in Oslo and took place on the eve of the conversation with Putin.

### Oslo Briefing and Night Contact with Oslo and Helsinki

Zelenskyy explained that Kyiv "had a briefing in Oslo on the subject of the upcoming planned trilateral meeting of negotiating groups in November in Abu Dhabi." According to him, Støre and Stubb wanted to discuss this agenda first with the Ukrainian president and then with the leader of Russia. "We spoke with them then, but did not go public with it because it was already night," he noted, explaining why the nighttime contact was not announced immediately.

### What Stubb and Stere Conveyed After the Conversation with Putin

On the morning of October 27, negotiations with Putin took place, during which, according to Zelenskyy, the parties laid out their positions. Immediately after their conclusion, Stubb and Stere called the Ukrainian president and shared the details. "In principle, they conveyed that there seems to be a feeling that the Russians are seriously inclined towards a meeting in Abu Dhabi," Zelenskyy quoted. The topics, according to him, should be the first de-escalation steps, the main priorities of the Ukrainian side — including security — and generally ending the war.

### Abu Dhabi, the American Agenda, and Security Guarantees

Kyiv expects that the meeting of technical groups will yield results or allow steps to be taken toward achieving them. Zelenskyy emphasized that this is "an agenda on our part that we discussed with our American partners." He called the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine a key one: "There is such a request to the Americans and Europeans from us. And Russia is raising the same issue, that they also need security guarantees." According to him, Finland and Norway also intend to contact the national security advisors of other European countries and other partners to inform them of the content of the conversation.

### Brussels Format and Postponement Due to the Middle East

Preparing for the meeting in Brussels, a format involving the US, EU leaders, and the NATO Secretary General was discussed, the focus of which was to be various issues and preparations for the trilateral meeting. "For example, to discuss what security guarantees might be, how we see them for ourselves, and then put all this on paper and be ready for the agenda of the trilateral meeting," Zelenskyy explained. At the same time, according to him, Washington has questions regarding the Middle East, so American partners asked to change the date. Now, the president noted, Kyiv expects new proposals from Donald Trump's team regarding holding such a meeting.

### Role of Russia's Neighbors and "Open Game"

Zelenskyy stressed that the initiative to hold talks with the Russian leader came from Støre and Stubb, who in an official statement emphasized that they were acting on behalf of Norway and Finland — not just as European states, but also as neighbors of Russia. According to him, these countries consider it right to share the received information with other European states and discuss the agenda with Ukraine, Europe, and the US, striving to play a more significant role in the process. The president positively assessed the initiative and expressed support for the communication format with the Kremlin, recalling that the meeting in Alaska "put an end to Russia's diplomatic isolation." "And here it is a completely open game — advance discussion, full briefing, transparent tasks," Zelenskyy summarized, adding that Ukraine maintains very good relations with both countries, for whom Russia poses a serious challenge as neighbors of the Russian Federation, European states, and important partners of Ukraine.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Открытая игра": Зеленский раскрыл замысел Норвегии и Финляндии по переговорам с Путиным](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidkrita-gra-zelenskiy-rozkriv-zamisel-norvegiyi-1793176560.html) - Primary source: Zelenskyy's direct statements about nighttime contact with Støre and Stubb, the briefing in Oslo, the Abu Dhabi agenda, and security guarantees. All theses of the article are taken from this text.

## FAQ

### Who initiated the talks between the leaders of Norway and Finland and Putin?

According to Zelenskyy, the initiative to hold talks with the Russian leader came from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who acted on behalf of their countries as neighbors of Russia.

### What was discussed during Zelenskyy's nighttime contact with Støre and Stubb?

Zelenskyy reported that they discussed the subject of the planned trilateral meeting of negotiating groups in November in Abu Dhabi, on which Kyiv had a briefing from Oslo. After morning talks with Putin, Stubb and Stere conveyed that Russia, in their perception, is seriously inclined toward this meeting.

### What issues does Kyiv consider priorities for the trilateral meeting?

Ukraine names the first de-escalation steps, its priorities, including security, and generally ending the war. Zelenskyy called security guarantees for Ukraine, discussed with American partners, a key issue.