Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Finnish leader’s office said.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the report to TASS.
TASS has compiled the main details available so far.
Details of the conversation
- Stubb and Store held a phone call with Putin on October 27, the Finnish leader’s office said.
- The two leaders took part in the call on behalf of their respective countries, rather than representing Europe as a whole.
- Stubb and Store initiated the conversation with Putin to discuss the situation in Ukraine and an upcoming meeting in Abu Dhabi.
- They also discussed maintaining stability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North.
Russia’s statement
- Putin discussed efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis with Stubb and Store, the Kremlin press service said.
- The discussion took into account Putin’s talks with US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, as well as Stubb and Store’s contacts with Witkoff and Vladimir Zelensky in Oslo.
- The Russian president gave his assessment of the current situation in the conflict zone in Ukraine and recalled its underlying causes.
- He said peace in Ukraine could be achieved provided that Russia’s interests are fully taken into account.
- Putin, Stubb and Store expressed support for the agreement to resume trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi, the Kremlin press service said.
- The Russian president informed the Finnish and Norwegian leaders that a US-mediated humanitarian operation had begun near the town of Alyoshki in the Kherson Region.
- Putin stressed that the confrontational approach pursued by the EU and NATO is hindering progress toward peace in Ukraine.
- The three leaders also discussed security and stability in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe, the Kremlin press service said.
- Stubb and Store "confirmed the importance of respecting international maritime law and the principle of freedom of navigation," the Kremlin said.
- Putin, Stubb and Store agreed to stay in direct telephone contact, the Kremlin press service said.
Finland’s statement
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb called the conversation frank and substantive, his office reported.
- Stubb stressed that ending the conflict in Ukraine requires continued direct dialogue with Russia.
Norway’s statement
- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stressed the importance of de-escalating the Ukrainian conflict during the call, the country's government press service reported.
Reaction
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Stubb and Store’s phone call with Putin had not been coordinated with their European allies.
