Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Nordic diplomatic friction
The decision by the two leaders to speak directly with Moscow drew immediate criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who expressed concern over the lack of a unified European approach. She noted that she was skeptical of the initiative.
The criticism extended to the European Union stage. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the move in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, describing the current European approach to diplomatic contacts with Russia as “messy” and lacking in credibility. Meloni cited the phone call between Støre, Stubb, and Putin as an example of disorder. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas supported the need for a unified voice, stating that the union should remain gathered to ensure its message to Russia is taken into account.
Coordination with Kyiv
Støre and Stubb maintained that the initiative was coordinated with international allies and explicitly requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Støre rejected claims that the conversation weakened European principles, stating that the purpose was to communicate clear messages directly to the Kremlin. The Norwegian prime minister noted that the dialogue covered three specific areas: attacks on energy and water infrastructure, grain transport, and prisoner exchanges.
Zelenskyj confirmed the coordination, writing on X that he was grateful for the thorough briefing and for their active support to our diplomacy and peace efforts.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also confirmed that the contact had been coordinated with Kyiv, labeling it the right approach.
Finnish President Stubb emphasized that the call was intended to facilitate a channel for Ukraine and that Finland does not view itself as holding a mediating role. Stubb stated that other European partners were informed of the content.
Content and impact of the dialogue
While some international observers, such as Professor Hanna Smith, suggested that the contact serves Russia’s desire to show it remains in touch with European leaders, other security analysts viewed the development differently. Retired U.S. General Ben Hodges argued that the involvement of Norway and Finland, given their geographic and military significance, provides a strategic reason for the dialogue. Hodges expressed frustration with Donald Trump’s handling of the Ukraine issue.
Conversely, some experts expressed deep skepticism. Iver B. Neumann, director of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, suggested that Denmark could not play a facilitating role. Meanwhile, retired Norwegian Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug described the diplomatic efforts as an absurd theater,
arguing that no real peace negotiations were occurring.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov claimed that the European leaders offered nothing new during the call and suggested the war would likely escalate. The conversation took place as part of preparations for upcoming negotiations. Støre and Stubb had previously held a one-hour conversation with Putin. Since January 2022, there have been at least 61 known contacts between European leaders and Putin, though these became increasingly rare as Western nations isolated the Russian leader.