Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss the prospects for a peace deal in Ukraine. The diplomatic outreach was aimed at restarting the peace process, coming as Brussels prepares for face-to-face contacts with the Russian side.
The move was not welcomed by all European leaders, as Western European leaders have mostly shunned contact with Putin since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022. Denmark’s prime minister stated she is very sceptical of the latest overture.
Shortly after the call, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with the leaders of Finland and Norway about their conversation with the Russian president. The push for direct discussions occurred as strikes hit a major bridge in the Ukrainian capital. President Stubb emphasized that the outcome of the war will have a direct impact on broader European security.