Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store is considering another call with Vladimir Putin, together with Finnish President Alexander Stubb

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that another telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin may take place, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb also expected to participate. The announcement comes after the approximately 90-minute discussion held by the three leaders on October 27 and following critical reactions from several European officials.

Store said he was satisfied with the first conversation and that Norway and Finland had not ruled out repeating the diplomatic initiative. During the call, Putin presented his assessment of the situation on the front, reiterated Moscow’s position regarding the “fundamental causes” of the war, and argued that lasting peace is possible only if Russia’s interests are taken into account.

The discussion took place as trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia resumed in Abu Dhabi. At a meeting with Nordic leaders, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the European Union to appoint a representative for future negotiations and reaffirmed the importance of European involvement.

Stubb justified the call by citing the need for Europe to play a more active role in peace efforts, but his office said that the leaders spoke on behalf of their own countries, not the continent as a whole. The initiative was criticized by the prime ministers of Denmark and Sweden, as well as by Lithuania, amid the lack of prior coordination with European allies.