Finland and Norway break Western silence with call to Putin
Finnish and Norwegian leaders held a rare 90-minute call with Putin urging him to end the war in Ukraine.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere called Vladimir Putin to press him to end the Ukraine war, marking a significant break with Western European practice of avoiding direct Kremlin contact.
The 90-minute call was followed by a separate conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The move comes after US President Donald Trump shifted his position in favour of Russia, and US ties with Ukraine have hit their lowest point in 18 months.
The Nordic leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and voiced strong support for Ukraine. The Kremlin's official account of the call showed no softening of Putin's demands.
Peace talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials are planned for Abu Dhabi next month, their first since February.
- 90 minutes
- Call duration
- February 2022
- War began
- 18 months
- US-Ukraine ties low point
- Abu Dhabi
- Planned talks location
Why it mattersDirect diplomatic engagement with Putin signals a shift in Western strategy as Trump changes course on Ukraine, raising questions about how long the West can sustain support for Kyiv.
AustraliaAustralia has backed Ukraine aid and supported Western sanctions on Russia; any major shift in US or European strategy could affect Australia's alignment on the conflict.
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