Stubb and Støre Call Putin

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2026, in a fresh diplomatic push to advance negotiations over Russia’s war against Ukraine.

According to separate statements from their governments, the two leaders initiated the call while attending meetings in Helsinki. It followed diplomatic discussions in Oslo on October 20 and was held in consultation with Ukraine. Its purpose was to convey messages directly to Putin about future negotiations and the need to end the war.

Direct Contact With Moscow

Stubb and Støre discussed diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and restore stability in Europe. Both stressed that negotiations must resume and that Finland and Norway will continue their longstanding support for Ukraine. The call was linked to meetings planned in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

Neither government announced a new peace proposal or disclosed specific terms. The statements also gave no account of Putin’s response or of any commitments from Russia.

Stubb described the discussion as frank and substantive, noting that Finland and Norway border Russia and have a direct security interest in the outcome of the war. Støre pointed to the enormous human and material cost of the invasion and said the two leaders had stressed the importance of reducing the intensity of the conflict.

Two Nordic Countries Acting Together

The initiative reflects the particular security position of Finland and Norway. Both are NATO members, both share land borders with Russia, and both have given substantial support to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Developments in Russia and Ukraine therefore bear directly on security in northern Europe.

The two leaders also raised stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. These areas have grown in importance for NATO since Finland and Sweden joined the alliance.

The governments stressed that Stubb and Støre took part as leaders of their own countries, not as representatives of Europe as a whole. The initiative was thus conducted in a national capacity, in coordination with Ukraine.

Diplomacy Alongside Continued Support

The call came as European governments continued to discuss how to support Ukraine while seeking a negotiated endto the war. Finland and Norway have consistently argued that a lasting settlement must strengthen European security.

According to the statements, the call opens a direct channel between the two Nordic governments and Moscow at the highest political level. It remains unclear whether Russia is prepared to shift its negotiating position, or whether the Abu Dhabi meetings will produce a substantive agreement.

Still, the message to Putin was plain: negotiations should resume, the war should end, and any path to peace must address the security of the wider European region.