Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end it. The Finland Norway Putin phone call took place in Helsinki, according to a statement from the Office of the President of Finland.
FAKTA
- Who took part: Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- When and where: Tuesday, 27 October 2026, with Stubb and Støre speaking from Helsinki.
- What was discussed: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and diplomatic efforts to end the war and promote peace and stability in Europe.
- Background: The call followed a meeting in Oslo on 20 October and was held in consultation with Ukraine.
- Next step mentioned: Future negotiations, related to upcoming meetings to be held in Abu Dhabi.
What the Finland Norway Putin Phone Call Covered
Stubb and Støre initiated the call, the Finnish presidency said. The aim was to convey messages directly to President Putin regarding future negotiations to help end the war. The statement said Finland and Norway border Russia, are firm supporters of Ukraine, and will continue their longstanding support for Ukraine.
Both leaders stressed that the war must end and negotiations resume. President Stubb described the discussion as frank and substantive, saying: “We are neighbouring countries to Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions.”
Prime Minister Støre said: “The war comes with enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will impact generations. In the call we stressed the importance of de-escalation.”
Leaders Spoke for Their Own Countries
The Finnish presidency statement made clear that Stubb and Støre took the call as leaders of their respective countries and did not speak on behalf of Europe as a whole. It also highlighted the two countries’ shared interest in stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North.
Why the Call Matters
Western European leaders have mostly shunned direct contact with President Putin since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters reported. The Helsinki call therefore marks a rare direct exchange between two Nordic leaders and the Russian president about ending the war.
The call followed a meeting in Oslo last week at which Støre and Stubb met United States special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a day before Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg, Reuters reported. After those talks, the Kremlin said Russia was willing to resume United States-mediated peace talks with Ukraine in November.
For related European coverage, see Watan News Europe coverage.
