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Norway, Finland leaders hold 'frank and substantive' talk with Putin / Photo: © NTB/AFP
Norway, Finland leaders hold 'frank and substantive' talk with Putin
Finland's president and Norway's prime minister held a "frank and substantive" discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the Nordic leaders said.
"The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions", President Alexander Stubb said in a joint statement with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
The statement noted that the call had been "held in consultation with Ukraine" and followed a meeting in Oslo on October 20 between Store, Stubb and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as US envoy Steve Witkoff.
US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part in the meeting remotely.
After the talks in Oslo, Witkoff travelled to Saint Petersburg to met Putin directly.
According to the statement, Stubb and Store initiated the call to discuss the war and "the diplomatic efforts to end the war and promote peace and stability in Europe."
"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", Store said.
Stubb described the discussion between the three as "frank and substantive".
Shortly after the announcement of the call, Kyiv said Zelensky had spoken to the Nordic leaders about the conversation with Putin.
Stubb confirmed the talks with Zelensky in a social media post and commented: "Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine, and the efforts to find a just and lasting peace."
Relations between Ukraine and the United States have become strained again after Trump this month suddenly announced a deal with Russia for diesel, as part of his efforts to lower oil prices sent soaring by his Iran war.
Ukraine reacted with dismay after Trump also waived sanctions against Russia and appeared to again pivot to Putin.
The Oslo meeting followed furious diplomatic efforts in Washington, Kyiv and Western capitals to calm the situation.
Norway and Finland, both NATO members, share borders with Russia and the statement emphasised that the countries are "firm supporters of Ukraine".
K.Gray--SFF
