Helsinki and Oslo reopen a disputed channel to Moscow
· BehindLines newsroom
Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland, and Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway's prime minister, jointly telephoned Vladimir Putin from Helsinki on Tuesday, 27 October. The BBC describes the roughly 90-minute conversation as the first direct exchange between European leaders and the Russian president since Emmanuel Macron spoke to him in July 2025.
The participants' accounts
The two leaders' offices say the conversation concerned possible negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. They stress that the initiative does not represent Europe collectively, and that their countries continue to support Kyiv. Stubb described a frank, substantive exchange and argued that ending the conflict requires talking directly to Russia. Støre acknowledged that the two sides' positions remained far apart.
According to the Kremlin's account, as reported by the BBC and the Guardian, Putin blamed what he called confrontational EU and NATO policies for prolonging the conflict. He said a lasting peace depended on taking Russian interests into account. All three leaders agreed to maintain telephone contact.
Ukraine consulted, allies unconvinced
Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha says the call was coordinated with his country. He regards it as a channel that complements the US-led talks rather than replacing them. Volodymyr Zelensky, who subsequently spoke with the two Nordic leaders, says they urged Moscow to take concrete steps towards de-escalation, particularly concerning energy infrastructure.
Støre says every ally received advance notice. Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen nevertheless expressed strong scepticism and said the initiative had not been coordinated with other Europeans. The Guardian also reports reservations of varying degrees from other officials, including Estonia's foreign minister Margus Tsahkna and leaders from Poland and Sweden.
The backdrop: November meetings in Abu Dhabi
The call follows an Oslo meeting on 20 October involving Stubb, Støre, Zelensky and US envoy Steve Witkoff. Kyiv and Moscow have since accepted US-mediated technical meetings involving three sides, announced for early November in Abu Dhabi. Al Jazeera also reported fresh Russian strikes on Kyiv on the day of the call, including one targeting the South Bridge.
What remains unsettled
Telephone contact does not amount to negotiations or a mandate from Europe. The consulted sources report no new commitment from Moscow. According to the Guardian, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk mentioned 4 November as a provisional date for the Abu Dhabi meetings. That timetable has not been confirmed.