Russia Ukraine War Latest Live News: Finland and Norway Leaders Break Europe’s Silence With Rare Call To Putin Ahead Of Ukraine Talks

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the first direct contact between a Western European leader and the Kremlin since Emmanuel Macron spoke to Putin in July 2025. The call, made from Helsinki, was an unusual departure for European governments that have largely avoided direct dialogue with Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and it came as the United States presses for a resumption of stalled peace negotiations.

Stubb’s office said the two leaders had initiated the call to discuss “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine” and the diplomatic effort to end it. In a joint statement, Stubb described the exchange as “frank and substantive,” adding: “We are neighbouring countries to Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions.” Støre said the conflict carried “enormous human and material costs” and that the two sides had “stressed the importance of de-escalation.”

The Kremlin confirmed the call shortly after the Finnish and Norwegian statements were released. According to its readout, Putin told the two leaders that “achieving a just, long-term peace is only possible with full and unconditional consideration of the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation,” a formulation that suggested Moscow had not moved from its existing position.