Finland’s Stubb and Norway PM call Putin in break with previous European stance

The leaders of Finland and Norway initiated a direct call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday morning amid broader diplomatic efforts to wind down Russia’s yearslong war with Ukraine. 

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted in a joint press release that they did not speak on behalf of “Europe as a whole” in this conversation but only as the leaders of their respective countries. 

Stubb called the discussion “frank and substantive,” noting that both Finland and Norway share a border with Russia. 

“The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions,” the Finnish leader said in a statement. 

The conversation comes ahead of planned trilateral talks between the U.S., Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi next month. 

“The war comes with enormous human and........

© The Hill