Finnish and Norwegian leaders urge Putin to end Ukraine war
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Businessday
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called Vladimir Putin to urge him to end the war in Ukraine. Their roughly 90-minute exchange comes ahead of talks scheduled in Abu Dhabi next month between Russian, Ukrainian and American officials, according to the Nordic leaders.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to ask him to end the war in Ukraine. The two leaders spoke with him for about 90 minutes, then with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Businessday.
Stubb and Støre linked their initiative to peace discussions scheduled for next month in Abu Dhabi between Russian, Ukrainian and American officials. In a joint statement, they said these exchanges would be the first since February. Stubb described the conversation with Putin as “frank and substantive” and stressed that the outcome of the war would have a direct effect on European security. The two leaders also called for de-escalation and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s account reported no change in Moscow’s position. It said lasting peace must fully take Russian interests into account and accused European Union and NATO countries of prolonging the hostilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the call brought nothing new and accused Europeans of seeking a place in the negotiations.
The initiative comes as Western European leaders have generally avoided direct contact with Putin and peace efforts are being led by US President Donald Trump. On 23 October, Volodymyr Zelensky asked allies to maintain pressure on Russia.
