Norway and Finland hold rare call with Putin to discuss ending war
The leaders of Norway and Finland held a joint phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2026, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The call was described as 'frank and substantive' by Finland's president. Norway's prime minister and Finland's president initiated the conversation, which was seen as a rare contact between European leaders and Putin. The aim was to explore possibilities for future negotiations to help end the conflict.
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- ✓ Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin.
- ✓ The call was described as 'frank and substantive' by Finland's president.
- ✓ An end to the conflict in Ukraine 'will not be achieved through silence,' Finland's President Alexander Stubb said.
What changed
The leaders of Norway and Finland initiated a joint call with Vladimir Putin, marking a rare instance of direct communication between European leaders and the Russian president.
Live updates
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Norway and Finland leaders hold rare call with Putin
The leaders of Norway and Finland held a joint phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 27, 2026, to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The call was described as 'frank and substantive' by Finland's president. Norway's prime minister and Finland's president initiated the conversation, which was seen as a rare contact between European leaders and Putin. The aim was to explore possibilities for future negotiations to help end the conflict.
Why it matters
The call took place amid differing views among European leaders on how to engage with Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Some European countries, like Denmark and Sweden, objected to the call, while others saw it as a pragmatic approach. The conversation comes as the international community seeks to find a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
What is confirmed
- Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin.
- The call was described as 'frank and substantive' by Finland's president.
- An end to the conflict in Ukraine 'will not be achieved through silence,' Finland's President Alexander Stubb said.
Still unconfirmed
- Denmark and Sweden objected to the call, while Italy asked who speaks for Europe, and Ukraine said it was the right approach.
What to watch next
- The response of other European leaders to the Norway-Finland initiative
- The outcome of any potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
- The reaction of the international community to future diplomatic efforts
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (17)
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- Bloomberg.com — Putin Plans Talks With Finland, Norway Leaders on Ukraine
- Reuters — Norway's prime minister, Finland's president in phone call with Putin
- The Guardian — Finnish and Norwegian leaders hold rare ‘frank and substantive’ call with Putin on Ukraine – Europe live
- Financial Times — Vladimir Putin speaks with Norwegian and Finnish leaders
- BBC — Norway and Finland hold rare call with Putin to discuss ending war
- The New York Times — European Leaders Split Over Phone Call to Putin
- The Telegraph — Putin’s peace talks with Nordic leaders divide Europe
- The Economist — World in Brief: Nordic leaders speak with Putin; Anthropic files its IPO
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