Nordic Leaders Break Silence with 90-Minute Putin Call Amid European Fractures
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, marking the first direct contact between Putin and Western European leaders since May. The conversation, described by Stubb as 'frank and substantive,' aimed to open a diplomatic channel ahead of US-brokered peace talks in Abu Dhabi. While the Nordic leaders emphasized their support for Ukraine and de-escalation, the Kremlin maintained that peace requires unconditional recognition of Russian interests. The initiative sparked sharp criticism from other European nations, who warned against fragmented diplomacy, while a localized ceasefire in the occupied city of Oleshky began the same day.
