Nordic leaders clash after 90-minute call with Putin

A 90-minute conversation with Vladimir Putin has split Europe’s closest neighbors.

On Tuesday, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke directly with the Russian leader. The call was one of the few high-level contacts between Putin and Ukraine’s European allies since the war began. Both Nordic leaders said the discussion was conducted on Ukraine’s behalf and that other allies were informed in advance. Their neighbors were not convinced.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the move as an independent initiative that bypassed Copenhagen. She said she was skeptical about what the two countries could achieve by speaking to Moscow without wider coordination. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson echoed the criticism, noting he had not been told about the call beforehand. The friction reveals a growing split over how Europe should engage with Russia.

European governments have debated since summer whether to appoint a representative to negotiate with Moscow. The discussion has intensified as Donald Trump moves closer to Moscow, often at Ukraine’s expense. A new round of peace talks is expected in Abu Dhabi next month. European leaders worry about being sidelined in negotiations that could define the continent’s security for decades. A senior European diplomat called the current outreach a free-for-all, saying too many leaders believe they can personally secure a deal with Putin.

The confusion stems from mixed messages about the purpose of the call. Stubb and Støre initially framed it as a way to convey Ukrainian messages. Støre later cited the need to manage shared fish stocks in the Barents Sea and maintain border security. Stubb added that the goal was to prevent misunderstandings between Russia and its Nordic neighbors. Analysts noted that the leaders could not agree on whether the call was about Ukraine or their own security interests. Joel Linnainmäki, a former Finnish diplomat, observed that if the situation looks messy, it probably is.

The dispute reflects a wider disagreement across Europe. France has long advocated keeping a channel to Putin open, while Germany and Britain have been more cautious. The Baltic states and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas fear that renewed engagement might ease pressure on Moscow without securing concessions. No single figure has a clear mandate to negotiate for the EU’s 27 member states. Kallas lacks the independent authority to negotiate without a mandate, and Moscow has little appetite for engaging with her. Reinier van Lanschot, a Dutch member of the European parliament, urged leaders to agree on a single representative, though he acknowledged that unanimity would be difficult.

Critics warn that Putin may interpret Europe’s sudden interest as a sign of desperation. Kristi Raik, director of the Estonian thinktank ICDS, said the Kremlin might view the move as an opportunity to create divisions. The Kremlin’s account of the conversation suggested no change in Putin’s maximalist demands. According to the Financial Times, Putin spent part of the call lecturing the Nordic leaders on medieval Slavic history, using arguments to question Ukraine’s right to exist. Moscow appears more willing to entertain European involvement since US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg last week. However, Moshes cautioned that Putin’s plan remains the military defeat of Ukraine.