Finnish and Norwegian leaders hold rare ‘frank and substantive’ call with Putin on Ukraine – Europe live

Norway’s Støre defends Putin call, but acknowledges ‘significant’ differences in opinions

Jakub Krupa

Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre has offered a bit more colour on his and Stubb’s call with Russia’s Putin in a huddle with journalists in Helsinki just now.

He and Stubb had been initially given only ۲۰ minutes to talk to Putin, but ended up speaking for ۹۰ minutes, in a conversation he described as “substantive, focused on the issues at hand, and professional.”

“Much of what he said was already known – he [Putin] recalled his views on how the conflict evolved since ۲۰۱۴ – and we stated our positions. These are well-known views, which we were able to acknowledge and respond to,” he said.

The talks touched on what can be done to tackle most pressing issues, including attacks on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea.

But Støre conceded “there remain significant differences in our respective positions,” reiterating Norway’s continued support for Ukraine.

“We stand with Ukraine, defend its right to self-defence, and emphasise the need for a diplomatic path to end this war in a lasting and just manner,” he said.

Støre also stressed that he and Finland’s Stubb spoke on behalf of their two countries only, “and no one else.”

Responding to criticism of their call from Denmark’s Frederiksen (۱۱:۲۶), he said that “all our partners and allies were informed in advance and received a detailed account afterwards.”

Pushing back further, he added:

“If one assumes that the current situation – where communication from the American administration to Moscow serves as the sole channel for discussing Ukraine outside of Ukraine – is the only way, then one is entitled to that view. I believe it is important that other voices are heard as well.”

Støre also stressed that the importance of the meeting in Abu Dhabi, first agreed as a result of the Oslo consultations that he and Stubb hosted.

In a brief section of the briefing in English, Støre again focused on pushing back against Frederiksen’s criticism:

“I believe that talking, having the right messages, is not wrong. Today these messages [are] coming out of the American administration; that is the only thing reaching Moscow. So ۱۷۹۳۱۰۵۴۹۸ there are [also] voices from two neighbouring states, speaking on behalf of Finland and Norway, not speaking on behalf of others, but … in full compliance with the coalition of the willing who share view on the nature of this war and how with has to end.”

Russia is exploring the possibility ⁠of ⁠cooperation with ​partners from the ⁠United States in the resource-rich ⁠Arctic, president ​Vladimir ‌Putin ‌told a conference ‌of gas-exporting countries in Moscow.

Putin did not specify ‌whether the joint projects under consideration ​would involve extracting natural gas ⁠or other resources.

Three tankers carrying Russian diesel are en route to the United States, with a fourth expected to depart Wednesday, Moscow said, part of a deal that triggered a fierce Ukrainian and European backlash.

US president Donald Trump this month struck an agreement with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions in exchange for Moscow releasing diesel onto global markets.

The measure was seen as an attempt to lower fuel prices for American consumers ahead of the US midterm legislative elections on ۳ November and drew sharp criticism from Ukraine and its allies.

“At present, three tankers” with Russian fuel are on their way to the United States, Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Tuesday. A fourth was expected to set off on Wednesday, he added.

The first US-bound tanker with Russian diesel departed last week. According to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler, it loaded nearly ۳۰۰,۰۰۰ barrels of diesel at the Primorsk terminal and was headed to New York.

In other news, the Netherlands has dropped (again) from the ۲۰۲۷ Eurovision song contest as public broadcaster NPO reversed its plans to pick up the baton after another broadcaster pulled out in August.

The withdrawal is linked with “sensitivities” over Israel’s participation in the competition, NPO’s media director Jurre Bosman said, acknowledging the issue continues to “elicit various reactions in society and causes discussion and division.”

“Therefore, after consultation with the Board of Broadcasters, the NPO has decided to forgo participation in ۲۰۲۷,” he added.

This is the second time a Dutch broadcaster has dropped out of the competition: in August, the Avrotros, which usually selects the Dutch entry and broadcasts the show, had pulled out, paving the way for NPO to step in.

Ireland and Spain have also declared they will not take part in the ۲۰۲۷ competiton because of Israel’s involvement, and the Czech Republic pulled out over financial constraints. Iceland and Slovenia also didn’t take part.

The ۲۰۲۷ Eurovision song contest will take place in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas, after singer Darina Yotova, performing as Dara, won this year’s contest in Austria with “Bangaranga”.

‘We have to be ready for a scenario in which the UK and Nato find itself at war with Russia,’ UK’s Streeting warns

Jakub Krupa

Meanwhile, Wes Streeting, the defence secretary, has warned that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is “testing us and testing Nato’s resolve” as he condemned hybrid threats and “state-sponsored terrorism” from Russia.

Streeting repeated his recent warnings that “we have to be ready for a scenario in which the United Kingdom and the Nato alliance finds itself at war with Russia”. He went on:

Not because we want war – we have no quarrel with the Russian people, and we have no desire for war with Russia; Nato is a defensive alliance – but when Putin gives assurances that he has no intentions to provoke a war with Nato, we are reminded of what he said about Ukraine only days before the invasion.

Speaking in Warsaw alongside Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Streeting stressed Nato is ready “to defend every inch of Nato territory” and will continue its support for Ukraine.

The defence secretary added:

The more ready we are to face against Russia, to defend every inch of Nato territory, the less likely we are to find ourselves in that scenario.

Poland is one of our greatest and certainly our most reliable friend in Europe, and we value and treasure this friendship very much.

The partnership is “not simply about our shared history,” but also “our shared determination that in that contest between freedom and tyranny, the United Kingdom and Poland will not be bystanders.”

He said that UK forces will next month take part in major exercises as part of the multinational force for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that “real de-escalatory steps are needed regarding our energy and infrastructure” ahead of critical winter months, as he responded to the reported call with Putin.

In his debrief with Finland’s Stubb and Norway’s Støre, the leaders also discussed preparations for the Abu Dhabi talks next month.

“Finland and Norway, as countries that border Russia, have a particular interest in sound and reliable security arrangements.

We also discussed various formats for our engagement with partners in Europe that could be useful in further supporting diplomacy, our defence, and our shared security.

There must be peace, de-escalation is needed, and Russia must stop dragging out the war.”

The Kremlin’s readout from Putin’s call with Stubb and Støre offers some more revealing lines from the Russian side, which perhaps show why Frederiksen (and no doubt other leaders) remain deeply sceptical of the idea that these discussions can change anything.

Putin “recalled the root causes” of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin said, and stressed that any peace settlement could only be reached with “full and unconditional considerations of the legitimate interests of the Russian Federation,” and as we know these tend to be phrased in a very expansive way.

He also blamed the EU and Nato for “confrontational policies,” which in his view “are leading to a prolongation of hostilities.”

The three leaders agreed to keep talking, so expect these issues to come up again.

But not everyone seems to be particularly convinced by the joint Finnish-Norwegian initiative.

Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen told the country’s broadcaster DR that she was “very sceptical” about this “independent initiative by Norway and Finland,” stressing “it has not been coordinated with the rest of us.”

“I see no signs that Russia desires peace with Europe – neither in the hybrid warfare taking place every single day, nor in Ukraine, where they are launching fierce and aggressive attacks on a daily basis.

I believe we should keep Europe united, rather than going it alone.”

She told DR that she didn’t know “what they think can be achieved by this.”

“We have previously emphasised – in very clear terms, on behalf of the rest of Europe – whenever others have gone it alone and traveled to Moscow, that it is crucial for us Europeans to stand together. That is something many of us have fought for all these years,” she said.

Russian news agency Tass has a bit more on the Stubb/Store/Putin call from the Russian side.

The agency it’s the first time the leaders spoke by phone since the full-scale invasion in March ۲۰۲۲.

The leaders agreed to continue contacts and discussed the upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi.

Finland’s Stubb has just confirmed his call with Zelenskyy.

He said:

“Norwegian PM @jonasgahrstore and I had a good phone call with @ZelenskyyUa.

We discussed our prior call with President Putin. Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine, and the efforts to find a just and lasting peace.”

Stubb and Støre are now reportedly briefing Ukraine’s Zelenskyy on their talks, according to AFP.

Oh, that’s interesting.

There were some rumours making rounds this morning that the Finnish president Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre, who hosted the US-Ukrainian talks in Oslo last week, may have been active again.

And we now have a formal confirmation: the pair spoke on the phone with Russia’s Vladimir Putin to discuss the latest on Ukraine.

Their call was “a follow-up” to the Oslo meeting, Stubb’s office said in a statement, as the Nordic pair wants to advance their diplomatic efforts to end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

“Finland and Norway border Russia. They are firm supporters of Ukraine. The aim of the call was to convey messages directly regarding future negotiations to help to end the war to President Putin. The call was related to the upcoming meetings to be held in Abu Dhabi,” the statement read.

The trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US in Abu Dhabi are expected in early November.

“Norway and Finland have always promoted peace and security in our region. The two countries have a shared interest in stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. This was highlighted in the call.”

Curiously, the statement noted that “Stubb and Støre took the call as leaders of their respective countries and did not speak on the behalf of Europe as a whole.”

Reacting after the call, Stubb called the discussions “frank and substantive,” saying that “ending the war requires direct discussions” with Russia.

“The war comes with enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will impact generations. In the call we stressed the importance of de-escalation”, Norway’s Støre added.

The head of Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy’s office, Kyrylo Budanov, has confirmed that the ceasefire in Oleshky is in operation.

“Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets has headed to the site and will be responsible for coordinating the process. We are in constant contact with him.

It is critically important that this mission to rescue our people be carried out successfully and safely. I am sincerely grateful to everyone involved in carrying out and supporting this operation. Every Ukrainian life is priceless.”

Morning opening: Russia, Ukraine begin localised ceasefire to allow aid to Oleshky, but strikes on Kyiv continue

Jakub Krupa

Russia and Ukraine have started a localised ceasefire to allow for ⁠a humanitarian operation to begin in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, but Russian strikes continued in other parts of the country, including Kyiv.

Overnight, Russia launched ۱۶ ballistic missiles and more than ۲۸۰ drones, with at least ۱۵ people injured in Kyiv, with further attacks in the Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia regions.

“A serious escalation in Russia’s operation against our logistics. Almost everywhere, Russia’s targets were the energy sector, logistics, and ordinary urban infrastructure,” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said.

He added that “the artificial and prolonged delays in the delivery of interceptor packages for Patriot and Nasams systems … are directly helping Russia achieve the objectives of its terrorist campaign.”

“Every such delay means another Russian strike on one facility or another. Unfortunately, strikes are taking place every day. Russia is constantly taking new steps toward escalation.”

I will also be looking at the latest updates from Serbia after Sunday’s parliamentary elections, France after last night’s proposals seeking to end student protests, and elsewhere.

It’s Tuesday, ۲۷ October ۲۰۲۶, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.