IRIA News

5 minute read

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2026, urging Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine.

The conversation marked a departure from the approach of many Western European leaders, who have largely avoided direct contact with the Kremlin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The call came as European governments seek a greater role in peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Stubb and Store said they wanted to send direct messages to Putin, reduce the risk of misunderstandings, and support diplomatic efforts ahead of planned discussions in Abu Dhabi in November involving Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European countries.

Stubb said preparations for the conversation followed a meeting in Oslo on October 20 involving Stubb, Store, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Ukraine and the United States coordinated the call, while the other Nordic countries were informed beforehand and briefed afterward.

The two leaders spoke with Putin for approximately 90 minutes before contacting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Stubb said Zelenskyy received a briefing lasting about 30 minutes on the discussion and its outcome.

“The discussion with Putin was frank and substantive,” Stubb said, explaining that Finland and Norway had a direct interest in the outcome because of their geographical proximity to Russia and the consequences of the war for European security.

Store said the two leaders had stressed the importance of de-escalation and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine. Stubb described the conversation as professional and straightforward, adding that they had discussed the key issues and messages agreed upon before speaking with the Russian president.

The Finnish leader said European countries could no longer remain bystanders in diplomatic efforts to end the war. He added that Ukraine had sought to establish a new channel of communication and that the initiative had been coordinated with key Western allies.

Putin Maintains Russia’s Position on Peace

The Kremlin’s account of the conversation did not indicate that Putin was prepared to soften Russia’s demands. According to the Russian presidency, Putin argued that a just and lasting peace would be possible only if Russia’s interests were fully and unconditionally taken into account.

The Kremlin also blamed what it described as the confrontational policies of the European Union and NATO for prolonging the conflict. The statement reiterated Moscow’s established position without announcing any new concessions or changes to its negotiating terms.

A source familiar with the discussions reported that Putin made clear he would not abandon Russia’s objective of taking control of the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. The territorial dispute remains one of the principal obstacles to a peace settlement, as Moscow and Kyiv continue to hold sharply different positions on the future of occupied Ukrainian territory.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the conversation had produced nothing new on the conflict. He also suggested that European governments were seeking a role in the negotiations, while warning that the information war surrounding the conflict could intensify.

The differences between the Russian and European positions therefore remain substantial. Finland and Norway emphasized the need for a fair and lasting peace, while Moscow continued to insist that any settlement must meet its demands.

European Leaders Seek a Greater Role in Peace Efforts

The initiative reflects growing concern in European capitals that they could be sidelined as Washington pursues its own diplomatic approach to the war. Many Western European leaders have avoided direct talks with Putin in an effort to isolate the Russian president, but the approach has left European governments with limited direct involvement in some negotiations led by Trump.

Recent changes in U.S.-Russia relations have added to those concerns. Washington has eased some sanctions on Russia, and Putin has agreed to supply Russian diesel to the United States. Ukraine has also raised concerns about disruptions to U.S. intelligence-sharing and satellite internet services used by its military.

Against this background, Stubb and Store sought to establish direct contact with Moscow while maintaining their support for Kyiv. Their initiative also underscored the security interests of Nordic countries, which view the outcome of the war as directly relevant to their own national security and the wider European security environment.

Abu Dhabi Talks Expected in November

Stubb said the call had helped pave the way for a meeting in Abu Dhabi involving representatives from the United States, Ukraine, Russia and European countries in November. The planned discussions would represent a new opportunity to address the conflict diplomatically, although the precise agenda and prospects for an agreement remain uncertain.

The diplomatic contacts come as Russia and Ukraine continue long-range strikes against each other, including attacks affecting energy facilities and other critical infrastructure. Zelenskyy said Stubb and Store had urged the Russian leadership to stop strikes against such targets.

Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, the main disagreements remain unresolved. Russia continues to demand that its interests and territorial claims be recognized, while Ukraine and its European supporters seek a just and lasting settlement. The phone call opened a direct channel between Moscow and two European leaders, but it produced no publicly announced breakthrough on the terms needed to end the war.