Nordic Leaders Hold Talks with Putin and Zelensky on Ukraine Peace Efforts

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday. According to Stubb’s office, the discussion with Putin focused on upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi, where Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators are expected to hold technical-level talks in early November.

Stubb described his conversation with Putin as frank and substantive, highlighting the direct impact of the war on Finland, Norway and wider European security. The two Nordic leaders emphasised that their discussions were conducted in their national capacities and did not represent Europe as a whole. They also reaffirmed their countries’ continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict.

The calls come as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue, with US President Donald Trump pursuing negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv. Stubb and Støre had met US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Zelensky in Oslo the previous week, before Witkoff held talks with Putin in St Petersburg. The Kremlin has indicated that Russia is willing to resume US-mediated peace talks with Ukraine in November, potentially marking the first such discussions since February.

Pic courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright