Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-10-29

Finnish and Norwegian Leaders Hold Talks With Putin on Ending Ukraine War

BLUFHelsinki and Oslo's outreach gave Putin a platform to restate maximalist war aims while exposing Europe's lack of a unified negotiating position ahead of Abu Dhabi talks.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre phoned Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, October 27, in consultation with Ukraine, to convey messages on future negotiations ahead of planned Abu Dhabi talks, according to Stubb's office 12. The Kremlin said Putin cited the "root causes" of the conflict and EU and NATO policies that prolong the fighting 1. Zelensky said the leaders told Putin that de-escalation on energy and infrastructure is needed 2. A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters, as relayed by Meduza, that Putin said Russia would not abandon its aim of capturing all of the Donbas 3. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was "skeptical" and that Europeans should not go solo 12.

Analysis
Finland and Norway have opened the first direct European channel to Putin since July 2025, but it did not move Russia's terms at all. Putin restated the "root causes" framing, blamed EU and NATO policy for prolonging the war, and reportedly reaffirmed his aim of taking all of the Donbas. That last point rests on a single unnamed source. Denmark's public rejection of going solo, against Helsinki and Oslo speaking only for themselves, leaves the EU without a single negotiator before the Abu Dhabi talks. Moscow may use the contact to press for its own seat at the table, as Ushakov has already demanded. The call may instead chiefly be a Kremlin bid to split European governments and signal openness without any willingness to compromise. Confidence is high, based on consistent reporting across five outlets, though the one primary item, a Norwegian government release, dates from 2022 and does not document this call.
5 sources
  1. Finnish, Norwegian Leaders Call Putin Ahead of Ukraine Peace Talks - The Moscow Times
  2. Leaders of Norway, Finland have call with Putin to advocate for peace - UPI
  3. Finnish and Norwegian leaders discuss Ukraine peace with Putin - Meduza
  4. Prime Minister Støre spoke with President Putin - Government of Norway (Regjeringen)
  5. Finland and Norway Hold 'Frank' Call With Putin on Ukraine - Bloomberg

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