In a bid to further diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre engaged in separate phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. The calls were part of preparations for upcoming peace talks scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi.
President Stubb’s office disclosed that his discussion with President Putin centered on the forthcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi. These discussions follow an agreement among Ukrainian, Russian, and U.S. negotiators to conduct technical-level talks in early November. Stubb characterized the conversation with Putin as candid and meaningful, emphasizing the direct impact of the war’s outcome on Finland’s security and the broader European region. He also highlighted the necessity of direct discussions to bring the conflict to an end.
Subsequent to Stubb’s conversation with Putin, President Zelenskyy had talks with both Stubb and Støre. Aide to Zelenskyy confirmed these interactions, during which the Nordic leaders reiterated their countries’ commitment to supporting Ukraine. They clarified, however, that their discussions did not constitute a unified stance on behalf of all European nations.
The telephone conversations came on the heels of recent diplomatic engagements involving U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and the Nordic leaders in Oslo, along with separate discussions between Witkoff and Putin in St. Petersburg. The Russian government has signaled a willingness to reinitiate U.S.-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine in November, potentially marking a resumption of talks that have been on hold since February.