Putin call with Nordic leaders exposes European divisions
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
A 90-minute call between Vladimir Putin and the Finnish and Norwegian leaders exposed European divisions over the war in Ukraine. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised a separate initiative by Finland and Norway, according to La Nouvelle Tribune.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone for about 90 minutes with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Tuesday 27 October about the war in Ukraine. The two leaders described the conversation as “frank”, reports La Nouvelle Tribune.
The call, prepared with Kyiv according to the Finnish presidency, was intended to convey messages to Vladimir Putin ahead of trilateral discussions between Ukraine, the United States and Russia scheduled for November in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had been informed and had requested specific “de-escalation measures”. The Finnish and Norwegian leaders had urged Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
The move prompted reservations within the European Union. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was sceptical about the initiative led by Norway and Finland, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on the two leaders to exercise caution. In the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin accused the European Union and Nato of prolonging the conflict, while agreeing to maintain contact. These remarks were reported in an article about Putin’s accusations against the EU and Nato.
The contact came as Europeans are not taking part in the talks announced in Abu Dhabi. According to La Nouvelle Tribune, relations between Washington and Kyiv have fallen to their lowest level in 18 months after US President Donald Trump shifted towards Moscow. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre defended the move, saying it was important that “other voices be heard”.
