Finnish and Norwegian leaders make rare direct call to Putin ahead of Ukraine peace talks
Leaders of Finland and Norway phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged de-escalation ahead of peace talks on Ukraine planned for November. The Kremlin repeated that any settlement must take Russia's demands into account.
The leaders of Finland and Norway, two Nordic countries, have spoken directly by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Such calls are rare for Western leaders, as the West has diplomatically isolated Putin. The conversation took place ahead of peace talks planned for November, which aim to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
A call for de-escalation
The Nordic leaders used the call to urge de-escalation. The step allows Finland and Norway to try to influence how the peace talks unfold, rather than simply watching from the sidelines.
Zelenskyy's account
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two leaders pressed Putin over attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The Kremlin's position
The Kremlin, the seat of Russia's presidency and government, reiterated its established position: any peace settlement must account for Russia's demands. The source does not say what those demands include, or whether any agreement was reached during the call.
The call shows that some European states are seeking direct contact with Moscow as the November talks approach.
