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Zelenskyy Reveals Details of Finland and Norway’s Call With Putin Ahead of Peace Talks
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on October 28 that the leaders of Finland and Norway had conveyed Kyiv’s position to Russian leader Vladimir Putin ahead of planned trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the US in Abu Dhabi in November, according to United24 Media.
Speaking to reporters the same day, Zelenskyy explained that he held a late-Monday conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to coordinate the negotiating agenda before their October 27 call with Putin.
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The two Nordic leaders contacted Zelenskyy immediately after their conversation with Putin and briefed him on the Russian position.
"Basically, they conveyed that they had the impression the Russians are serious about the meeting in Abu Dhabi," Zelenskyy stated.
According to the Ukrainian President, the planned negotiations at the technical-team level will focus on initial steps toward de-escalation, Ukraine’s security priorities, and broader efforts to end the war.
Kyiv hopes the talks will produce concrete progress on reducing attacks against energy infrastructure, de-escalating hostilities at sea, exchanging prisoners, and exploring a possible trilateral meeting at the leaders’ level.
Security guarantees remain another central issue. "We have made this request to the Americans and Europeans. And Russia is raising the same issue, saying that it also needs security guarantees," Zelenskyy stated.
Finland and Norway are expected to brief national security advisers from other European countries and international partners on their conversation with Putin.
During the conversation, Putin delivered a lengthy lecture on Slavic history and avoided discussing an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported, citing sources familiar with the talks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that the call, initially expected to last less than 30 minutes, stretched to 90 minutes.
According to the report, Putin refused to address key issues surrounding an end to the war, instead focusing on what he described as its root causes. The European leaders reportedly chose not to interrupt him to assess how seriously he approached dialogue with Europe.
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Zelenskyy also addressed preparations for a separate meeting in Brussels involving American representatives, European Union leaders, and the NATO Secretary General. The meeting was intended to develop proposals for security guarantees and establish a coordinated position ahead of the Abu Dhabi negotiations.
Washington requested that the meeting be rescheduled because American representatives needed to remain in the US capital to address developments in the Middle East.
"We are waiting for new proposals for such a meeting with the American team," Zelenskyy stated.
He further explained that the planned Abu Dhabi negotiations now largely depend on Washington, as both Ukraine and Russia have already confirmed their willingness to participate. The American administration’s focus on the Middle East remains a significant factor affecting the diplomatic schedule.
The Nordic diplomatic initiative followed earlier consultations in Oslo, where Ukraine and its partners discussed the agenda for the November negotiations.
Zelenskyy welcomed Finland and Norway’s effort to establish an additional communication channel with Moscow, emphasizing that the two countries coordinated their positions with Kyiv and would share information with European partners.
Earlier, on October 21, it was reported that European governments were considering appointing a representative to negotiate directly with Putin amid concerns that Europe could be sidelined in peace talks.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb emerged as a potential candidate, alongside senior EU officials, while Czech President Petr Pavel urged European leaders to identify someone capable of representing the continent in negotiations with Moscow.
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