Leaders of Finland and Norway sparked tensions within the Nordic region this week after engaging in a rare, direct phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Tuesday, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute conversation with Putin, marking an unusual high-level exchange between Moscow and two of Ukraine’s European allies amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Both leaders emphasized that the call was conducted on behalf of Ukraine and that other allies had been informed in advance. However, the move drew swift criticism from neighboring Denmark and Sweden. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed skepticism about the uncoordinated nature of the initiative, questioning its potential effectiveness. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also voiced disapproval, noting he was not consulted before the contact took place.
The episode exposed divisions among European governments about how to manage dialogue with Russia, complicating efforts to establish a unified approach to communications with Putin. Arkady Moshes, director of the Russia programme at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, described the disagreement as significant within the typically consensus-driven Nordic context.
Since the summer, European leaders have debated appointing a specific envoy to engage Moscow in peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, but progress remains limited. The urgency of this issue has grown amid recent developments, including apparent warming ties between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia. A new round of peace talks is expected next month in Abu Dhabi, fueling concerns in Europe about being sidelined in shaping regional security arrangements.
A senior European diplomat speaking anonymously described the current approach as a “free-for-all,” highlighting an array of leaders independently seeking access to Putin in hopes of brokering an agreement. This year alone, British, French, and German envoys have met with Russian officials, and the office of European Council President António Costa has pursued other Kremlin contacts. This stands in contrast to the diplomatic isolation many Western leaders imposed on Putin following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Notably, Stubb had previously stated during his 2024 presidential campaign that he would refuse a call from the Russian president.
Analysts have attributed some confusion around the Stubb-Støre call to mixed messaging about its purpose. While initially framed as a channel to convey Ukrainian concerns, the call appeared to carry multiple objectives. Støre later cited bilateral issues such as managing shared fish stocks in the Barents Sea and security along the Norway-Russia border as reasons for engagement. Stubb added that the discussion was intended to reduce the risk of misunderstandings between Russia and Nordic countries.
Joel Linnaimiäs, a former Finnish diplomat, suggested that this lack of clarity reveals broader discord: “If it looks messy, it probably is.” The episode reflects wider European debates over how and when to engage Putin, despite strong consensus on supporting Ukraine. According to Kristi Raik, director of the Estonian think tank ICDS, there is agreement on substance but divergent views on timing and leadership of dialogue efforts.
France has consistently supported maintaining communication channels with Moscow, whereas Germany, Britain, the Baltic states, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remain wary that renewed high-level contacts could reduce pressure on Russia without yielding meaningful concessions. Meanwhile, discussions about who should spearhead Europe’s outreach to Putin continue to evolve.