Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called Vladimir Putin from Helsinki on 27 October. Their initiative, discussed with Ukraine, sought to advance efforts to end the war ahead of meetings in Abu Dhabi. Both leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine and spoke as representatives of their own countries.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin together from Helsinki on 27 October. They sought direct discussions about ending Russia’s war against Ukraine. The two leaders initiated the contact as representatives of Finland and Norway, rather than on behalf of Europe as a whole.[1], [2]
The Finnish presidency said the initiative was undertaken in consultation with Ukraine and followed the meeting in Oslo on 20 October. The call was linked to upcoming diplomatic meetings. Stubb described the conversation as frank and substantive and said ending the war required direct discussion.[1]
Finland and Norway both have land borders with Russia. The two leaders, Stubb and Støre, raised stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North in northern Europe. Stubb said the war’s outcome directly affected Finnish, Norwegian and wider European security. Støre stressed the enormous human and material costs and suffering extending across generations. Both pledged to maintain their longstanding support for Ukraine while urging de-escalation.[1]
