Finland and Norway hold rare call with Putin on ending Ukraine war

On October 27, 2026, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a rare joint call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to urge de-escalation in Ukraine, followed by a talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking for their own nations, the Nordic leaders noted direct dialogue is crucial for European security ahead of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi. Putin blamed NATO for prolonging the war, while Denmark criticized the uncoordinated call.

Nordic phone call with Vladimir Putin

• ▪Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that they initiated the October 27, 2026 call with Vladimir Putin as leaders of Finland and Norway rather than representing Europe as a whole
• ▪The October 27, 2026 call involving Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre marked the first direct contact between Vladimir Putin and European leaders since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Putin in July 2025
• ▪Alexander Stubb, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Vladimir Putin discussed maritime law and Baltic security during their October 27, 2026 phone call, including actions against Russia's shadow tanker fleet
• ▪Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre stated that as nations bordering Russia, the outcome of the war in Ukraine directly impacts Finnish, Norwegian, and broader European security
• ▪Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a joint phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Kremlin response to the call

• ▪The Kremlin stated that Vladimir Putin told the Nordic leaders, Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre, that a lasting peace settlement requires full and unconditional recognition of Russia's legal interests
• ▪The Kremlin stated that Vladimir Putin cited confrontational policies by European Union and NATO member countries as the key factor prolonging the hostilities in Ukraine

Nordic discussions with Zelenskyy

• ▪Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he discussed various engagement formats for European partners with Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre following their call with Vladimir Putin
• ▪Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre held a follow-up phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after speaking with Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2026

Preparatory meeting in Oslo

• ▪U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Jonas Gahr Støre, Alexander Stubb, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, prior to meeting Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner participated remotely in the October 20, 2026 meeting in Oslo between Stubb, Støre and Zelenskyy alongside Steve Witkoff

U.S. diplomatic actions

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine to stop drone strikes on Russian oil refineries during his October 2026 diplomatic push
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump struck a deal to import Russian diesel and eased energy sanctions on Russia in October 2026 to encourage peace negotiations

Oleshky temporary ceasefire

• ▪A temporary ceasefire began, around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to enable civilian evacuations amid frontline food shortages
• ▪Neither Ukraine nor Russia reported any ceasefire violations around Oleshky by midday on October 27, 2026