Nordic Leaders Call Putin in Direct Talk on Ukraine War

On October 27, 2026, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders said the discussion was intended to convey messages, in consultation with Ukraine, about future negotiations aimed at ending the war and to promote peace in Europe. Both emphasized they spoke solely as representatives of their own countries, not on behalf of the EU or NATO.

The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke with Putin about negotiations and held calls with Zelenskyy Moscow TimesPutin is preparing for talks with the leaders of Finland and Norway Kyiv IndependentRTE (Radio Television of Ireland)

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, most Western European heads of government have avoided direct contact with the Kremlin, relying on sanctions and diplomatic pressure. The call broke that pattern after high-level meetings in Oslo on October 20, 2026, which included Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and other officials. The outreach came amid shifting U.S. policy, with President Donald Trump easing sanctions on Russia.

The Straits Times

• October 20, 2026 – Oslo meeting of Støre, Stubb, Zelenskyy, and Witkoff.

The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke with Putin about negotiations and held calls with Zelenskyy

• October 27, 2026 – Phone call between Stubb, Støre, and Putin.

The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke with Putin about negotiations and held calls with Zelenskyy

• October 21, 2026 – Witkoff meets Putin in St. Petersburg to deliver Ukrainian and European proposals.

Putin is preparing for talks with the leaders of Finland and Norway

• November 2026 (later) – Planned trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.

Putin holds call with leaders of Norway, Finland – Kremlin

• Norway: Støre highlighted the “enormous human and material costs” of the conflict and said the call stressed “the importance of de-escalation.”

Putin Holds Phone Talks With Finland’s Stubb and Norway’s Støre on Ukraine Negotiations: how 16 outlets framed it

• Ukraine: Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the briefing and reaffirmed Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts.

RTE (Radio Television of Ireland)

• European Union: A senior EU official indicated that additional European-led talks are expected before the Abu Dhabi summit.

Kyiv Independent

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the unilateral initiative, saying Europe should “stick together rather than going solo” and questioning what the two countries hope to achieve.

The Straits Times

Sources differ on when the call was first arranged. *Straitstimes* reported a source close to the Kremlin said the conversation took place in July 2026 and was not publicly announced, while *Kyivindependent*, *RT-English*, and *UNN* state it occurred on October 27, 2026. No official confirmation of a July date appears, creating uncertainty about the timing. The Kremlin’s read-out did not indicate any shift on the Donbas region, and a Kremlin-close source said Putin reiterated that Russia would not compromise on that objective.

The Straits Times

The call marks the first direct contact between a Russian leader and officials from NATO-member states bordering Russia since a French leader’s conversation with Putin in 2025. By engaging directly, Finland and Norway aim to influence the diplomatic environment ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, where security guarantees, cease-fire formats, and post-war reconstruction will be discussed. The initiative underscores the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea and the High North for regional stability and highlights divergent views within Europe about the best approach to peace negotiations.

Putin holds call with leaders of Norway, Finland – Kremlin Kyiv IndependentMoscow TimesPutin is preparing for talks with the leaders of Finland and Norway The Straits Times

• “The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions,” — Alexander Stubb

Kyiv Independent

• “I think Europe should stick together rather than going solo,” — Mette Frederiksen

The Straits Times