Finland and Norway speak to Putin about peace talks
The leaders want to convey messages directly about negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Follow-up to: Finland and Norway discuss new peace talks Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:25
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. According to Finland and Norway, the conversation concerned diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine and planned talks in Abu Dhabi.
Stubb and Støre initiated the telephone call from Helsinki. According to the Norwegian cabinet, Ukraine was consulted beforehand. The two leaders stressed that their countries would continue to support Ukraine and that negotiations should resume.
According to the official statement, the purpose of the conversation was to convey messages to Putin directly. Stubb described the conversation as frank and substantive, according to the statement. Støre stressed the importance of de-escalation and pointed to the war’s long-term human and material consequences, according to the same statement.
The talks are linked to a planned meeting in Abu Dhabi. According to reports by AP and Reuters, delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States may hold technical-level discussions there. The precise agenda and status of the meeting have not yet been made fully public.
Finland and Norway border Russia and are members of NATO. Both countries have backed Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion. At the same time, European government leaders are divided over direct contact with Moscow. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was sceptical, according to AP, about a separate initiative without broader European coordination.
Russian statements do not indicate that Moscow has abandoned its main demands. According to AP, the Kremlin said that lasting peace is possible only if Russia’s interests are taken into account. That is the Russian position, not an independent assessment of the feasibility of an agreement.
The telephone call therefore mainly creates a new diplomatic channel. It is not a peace agreement, and no new ceasefire has been announced. For now, its significance lies in preparing for possible talks and in the question of whether European countries want to organise joint diplomatic contact with Russia alongside their support for Ukraine.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke with the Russian president about Ukraine and possible negotiations.
- Ukraine was consulted, according to the Norwegian statement.
- Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine.
- No peace agreement or new ceasefire has been announced.
Left
Arguments Direct contact can be useful in limiting escalation, but must not mean that Ukraine or other European countries are excluded from decision-making. Diplomacy must be accompanied by protection for the attacked party.
Values The international legal order, solidarity with Ukraine and conflict management.
Consequences Support for talks as long as Ukraine remains involved and no pressure arises to accept territorial concessions in advance.
Centre
Arguments Countries bordering Russia have their own security interests and can open additional diplomatic channels. At the same time, broad European coordination is needed to prevent separate initiatives from working at cross-purposes.
Values European unity, pragmatism and institutional coordination.
Consequences Cautious parallel talks alongside existing European and transatlantic structures.
Right
Arguments Contact with Putin is worthwhile only if it does not reward Russia’s position of power and continues to be accompanied by credible deterrence and support for Ukraine.
Values National security, deterrence and responsibility towards allies.
Consequences Limited diplomatic contacts, but continued military and economic pressure until Russia makes concrete concessions.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The diplomatic contacts and their official aims have been confirmed by the governments involved and independent news agencies. The article does not present possible follow-up talks or Russian positions as established outcomes.
- confirmed Stubb and Støre spoke by telephone with Putin on 27 October. — Confirmed by the Norwegian cabinet and Reuters. source
- confirmed The conversation concerned the war in Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end it. — Stated in Norway’s official statement. source
- confirmed The conversation was linked to planned meetings in Abu Dhabi. — Reported in the official statement and by AP. source
- confirmed No peace agreement was announced. — The sources consulted report only diplomatic talks and no agreement. source
Editor's note
The telephone call, the leaders involved and the link to possible talks in Abu Dhabi have been confirmed by official statements and news agencies. There is no evidence that the conversation led to an agreement or concrete Russian concession.Sources
- President Stubb and Prime Minister Støre held a call with President Putin — Office of the Prime Minister of Norway
- Localized ceasefire brokered as Nordic leaders speak to Putin and Zelenskyy — AP
- Leaders of Norway, Finland hold calls with Putin then Zelenskiy — Reuters
The story so far
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 11:25 Finland and Norway discuss new peace talks
- Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 14:53 Finland and Norway speak to Putin about peace talks (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
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- Het Parool — „oekraïne rusland”