In an unusual diplomatic move, at a time when most Western European leaders have drastically limited their contacts with Moscow since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin today, Tuesday, October 27, focusing on the war in Ukraine and the prospects for ending it.

The Finnish president’s office announced the call, with Stubb describing the discussion as “frank and substantive” and emphasizing that the outcome of the war directly affects the security of both the Nordic countries and Europe as a whole.

“We are neighboring countries with Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our own security, as well as on broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions,” the Finnish president said.

For its part, Moscow, through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commented that Russia views Norway and Finland as new participants in efforts to resolve the conflict and will consider “whether they can achieve anything of this kind.”

Meanwhile, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said that Russia is “in principle ready” to resume trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine, although there have so far been no indications that Putin is willing to hold a one-on-one meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The contact is particularly significant because it comes at a time of intensifying diplomatic efforts to restart peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with the United States acting as mediator. It is also the first direct contact between European leaders who support Kyiv and the Kremlin since French President Emmanuel Macron held talks with the Russian president in July of last year.

Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre had met on October 20 in the Norwegian capital with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Their discussions focused on the conditions for ending the war, the security guarantees sought by Kyiv, territorial issues, and the possibility of reaching partial ceasefire agreements.

One day later, Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg, where he met with Vladimir Putin, conveying the proposals discussed with the Ukrainian and European sides.

Following the meeting, the Kremlin announced that Russia was willing to return to the negotiating table with Ukraine for peace talks under US mediation, potentially within November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre immediately after the two Nordic leaders spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kyiv officially announced.

The call took place so that the two European officials could brief the Ukrainian side directly on the outcome and content of their discussions with the head of the Kremlin.

It is recalled that Zelensky met with Stubb and Støre last week in Oslo, as part of preparatory efforts to resume peace negotiations.

The two Nordic leaders described their conversation with Putin as “frank and substantive,” in a rare instance of direct diplomatic contact between the leaders of European countries supporting Ukraine and the Russian leadership.

Growing Pressure on Kyiv and US Involvement

This diplomatic move follows a visit to St. Petersburg by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, which took place after preliminary talks in Oslo with Zelensky and the leaders of the Nordic countries.

The diplomatic activity comes at a particularly sensitive time for Kyiv, as relations between Ukraine and the United States have reached a low point following a diesel trade deal that Trump struck with Putin earlier this month, as well as tensions caused by slowdowns in Starlink satellite connectivity.

In addition, Ukraine faces growing budgetary needs and a severe shortage of air defense systems ahead of Russian attacks expected over the winter.

Meanwhile, although territorial status and security guarantees for Kyiv remain key sticking points, the new European security architecture after the war is also an open question — an area in which Finland and Norway are seeking an active voice and role.