The Nordic Council Split on Putin Talks

The Nordic Council adopted an updated societal security strategy on October 28, calling for closer cooperation on civil defence, essential supplies and crisis response.

After the first two days of plenary meetings in Helsinki, preparedness has emerged as one of the session’s clearest outcomes. Governments are urged to develop joint risk assessments and work towards a Nordic agreement covering civil defence, emergency preparedness and security of supply.

For residents, the objectives concern access to medicines and electricity, protection of digital infrastructure and assistance across national borders. Implementation rests with governments: the council’s parliamentary recommendations do not themselves establish a binding preparedness agreement.

Preparedness in Schools

The strategy recommends an annual preparedness week in Nordic schools, combining critical thinking, source assessment and young people’s participation in discussions about societal security.

It also urges governments to pursue international rules that prevent or restrict the development of superintelligent artificial intelligence. Neither recommendation sets an implementation date or allocates funding.

A more concrete commitment came from the Nordic Council of Ministers for Culture, which allocated approximately €134,000 to Hanaholmen Heritage for 2027. The programme will conduct preparedness exercises, strengthen protection of digital heritage and establish a regular Nordic-Baltic forum.

That funding is a decision by the intergovernmental Council of Ministers, distinct from the parliamentary Nordic Council.

Ukraine Calls for Unity

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Nordic countries to coordinate their diplomacy and strengthen support for Ukraine. He requested more air defence equipment, transformers, generators and cables ahead of winter.

The meetings also exposed disagreement over engagement with Moscow. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb called Russian President Vladimir Putin from Helsinki on October 27, in consultation with Ukraine.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the lack of coordination, while Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson questioned the usefulness of such contacts. No breakthrough towards peace has been documented.

Dispute Over Equal Participation

Questions about influence within Nordic cooperation remain unresolved. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen warned that Greenland could reconsider its participation in the Council of Ministers unless the Helsinki Treaty, which underpins Nordic cooperation, is updated soon.

Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Åland are seeking more equal participation. A new commission meeting is intended to advance the revision, but no treaty amendment has been announced.

Norway also presented its priorities for its 2027 presidency of the Council of Ministers. A new societal security and preparedness programme will begin on January 1. The Nordic Council separately recommended approval of the Council of Ministers’ proposed 2027 budget.

The session continues on October 29, with welfare, gender equality, barriers to cross-border movement and further preparedness proposals on the agenda.