Efforts to end the war in Ukraine took a diplomatic turn as Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre engaged in separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These discussions are part of the broader initiative to facilitate peace talks scheduled for early November in Abu Dhabi.
President Stubb’s office reported that his conversation with Putin was frank and substantive, focusing on the upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi. Stubb emphasized the war’s direct impact on Finland’s security and the wider European region, underscoring the necessity of direct discussions to resolve the conflict.
Following the call with Putin, Stubb communicated with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, as confirmed by a Zelenskyy aide. Norwegian Prime Minister Støre also engaged in talks with Zelenskyy, reiterating the Nordic countries’ support for Ukraine. Both leaders clarified that their discussions did not represent a unified stance on behalf of all European nations.
The calls took place after a series of diplomatic engagements, including meetings in Oslo involving US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and the Nordic leaders, as well as discussions between Witkoff and Putin in St Petersburg. The Kremlin has shown openness to resuming US-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine, which, if realized, would mark the first such talks since February.
As preparations continue for the technical-level discussions in Abu Dhabi, the involvement of Nordic leaders emphasizes the international dimension of the peace efforts and the ongoing commitment to seeking a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
