Finnish and Norwegian leaders' rare call with Putin on Ukraine peace talks
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a rare phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first direct communication between European leaders and Russia's president in more than a year, to discuss restarting peace talks on Ukraine. The call drew sceptical public reactions from Danish and Swedish leaders, who criticised the diplomatic overture as unilateral, while Ukraine expressed hope it could create new momentum for peace negotiations.
Current state
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a rare, 'frank and substantive' 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss restarting Ukraine peace negotiations. The call was the first known direct communication between European leaders and Putin in more than a year, drawing public scepticism from Danish and Swedish leaders while Ukraine expressed hope for new momentum.
4 sources · 4 reports · Updated 27 Oct 2026
What changed
Nordic split: Denmark, Sweden doubt Finland-Norway Putin call
New reports reveal the 90-minute call was 'frank and substantive,' while Denmark and Sweden publicly criticised the Finnish-Norwegian overture, with Denmark calling it 'solo' diplomacy.
Developments
- Key development
Stubb and Støre held a 'frank and substantive' 90-minute call with Putin about efforts to end the war in Ukraine and restart peace negotiations.
- Key development
Danish and Swedish leaders publicly cast doubt on the diplomatic overture, with Denmark criticising it as 'solo' diplomacy.
- Key development
Ukraine expressed hope the call could create new momentum for peace negotiations.
- Key development
The call was the first direct communication between European leaders and Putin in more than a year.
Current story coverage
Earlier coverage
- Kyiv hopes for ‘new momentum’ in peace talks after Finnish and Norwegian leaders’ call with Putin – Europe live Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre held ‘substantive’ talk with Russian president on peace negotiations, but faced sceptical reactions from some European leaders Meanwhile, Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, has warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is “testing us and testing Nato’s resolve” as he condemned hybrid threats and “state-sponsored terrorism” from Russia. Streeting repeated his recent warnings that “we…
- Norway and Finland leaders hold rare call with Putin This is the first time European leaders have had direct communication with Russia's president in more than a year.