Finnish and Norwegian leaders call Putin ahead of upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27. One of the main topics was diplomatic efforts to end the war against Ukraine, according to a statement from the Office of the President of Finland.
According to the Finnish presidential office, Stubb and Støre initiated the call. Before contacting the Russian president, they held consultations with Ukraine to convey its position on the upcoming peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
The call followed a meeting held in Oslo on October 20. The parties discussed Russian aggression against Ukraine, prospects for ending the war, and ways to achieve peace and stability in Europe.
What Stubb and Støre told Putin
The Finnish presidential office stressed that the purpose of the call was to convey Ukraine’s position directly to Putin ahead of the next stage of peace talks.
Stubb and Støre emphasized that the war must end and diplomatic contacts must continue. They also reaffirmed Finland’s and Norway’s readiness to continue providing long-term support to Ukraine.
"The conversation was frank and businesslike. We are neighbors of Russia. How the war ends will affect the security of Finland and Norway and, more broadly, the security of all Europe. Ending the war requires direct negotiations," Stubb said.
For his part, Støre drew attention to the human toll and long-term consequences of Russian aggression. He stressed the importance of reducing tensions.
"The war is causing immense human suffering and costs. The war leaves its mark on many generations. During the conversation, we emphasized the importance of de-escalation," the Norwegian prime minister stressed.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said that trilateral talks on resolving the war in Ukraine were planned for the first half of November in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, according to The Telegraph, Russia may try to use peace talks to secure concessions from NATO. In particular, Vladimir Putin may demand that the Alliance’s military presence in Europe be reduced to its 1997 level.
At the same time, the Kremlin has shown no willingness to make concessions on a ceasefire. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian officials continue to reject proposals for a full or partial ceasefire put forward by Ukraine and the US.
