Nordic leaders hold talks with Putin regarding Ukraine

On October 27, 2023, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, together with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, initiated a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reports indicate that this conversation lasted 90 minutes, significantly longer than initially planned, and covered several topics, primarily the history of the Slavs in the Middle Ages.

During the call, the leaders of the Nordic countries urged Putin to take genuine steps towards de-escalation concerning energy and infrastructure supplies in Ukraine. Stubb stated that the phone call was prepared in close cooperation with Ukraine to address the urgent situation in the region.

According to its own statements, the European Commission was informed in advance about the planned phone call. This contrasts with the comments made by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who criticized the two leaders' discussions with Putin. She expressed skepticism about whether the dialogue would be productive and whether it could genuinely contribute to reducing tensions.

Meanwhile, Jonas Gahr Støre defended the talks as a necessary step to gain insights into ongoing conflict issues. He emphasized the importance of engaging with Putin to potentially end attacks on Ukraine and discuss security guarantees.

A report from the Financial Times stated that the topic of an immediate ceasefire was scarcely addressed during the conversation. Instead, the discussion was dominated by historical considerations, which led the two Nordic leaders not to interrupt Putin's explanations.

Overall, the course of the conversation indicates that communication between the leaders of the Nordic countries and the Russian leadership occurs in a context marked by tensions and sanctions. It remains unclear what concrete impact this conversation may have on the situation in Ukraine.