Finland and Norway leaders call Putin ahead of Ukraine peace talks
The short version
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The call was part of efforts to shape the agenda for US-brokered peace talks on Ukraine.
- It marked the first high-level contact between Putin and pro-Ukrainian European leaders in over a year.
- Some European leaders, including Denmark and Estonia, expressed skepticism about the call.
- Ukraine reportedly supported the outreach despite concerns from other allies.
What we don’t know yet
- Whether the call led to any concrete outcomes in the peace process.
- The exact content of the conversation between the leaders.
- How the US will respond to the direct engagement with Putin.
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Coverage compared
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Centre · 7
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How coverage grew
First reported by Politico Europe Europe is living in a new ‘era of darkness,’ Finland’s Stubb warns
The Straits Times Norway’s prime minister, Finland’s president in phone call with Putin
Euronews Finnish and Norwegian leaders call Putin, urge restart of peace talks
Brussels Signal Finnish and Norwegian leaders hold direct call with Putin, prompting unease among allies
All 25 articles
- Politico Europe, centreZelenskyy defends leaders of Finland and Norway over Putin talks
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- Al Jazeera English, left-leaningNorway and Finland hold rare phone call with Putin: What that means
- The Straits Times, centreNorway’s premier says call with Putin was effort to present European views
- Euronews, centreEurope Today: Israel faces deadlock after vote, Nordic leaders hold rare Putin call
- Politico Europe, centreThe Putin call dividing EU leaders
- Daily Mirror, left-leaningPutin invites Zelensky to Moscow for peace talks in big potential war breakthrough
- Daily Mirror, left-leaningNATO countries hold rare call with Vladimir Putin as leaders discuss ending Ukraine war
- BBC News, centreNorway and Finland leaders hold rare call with Putin
- The New York Times, left-leaningEuropean Leaders Split Over Phone Call to Putin