Denmark's Frederiksen criticizes Finland and Norway for calling Putin without coordinating with allies, despite consultation with Ukraine
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized Finland's and Norway's leaders for holding a joint phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin without coordinating with allies.
The call came ahead of planned US-led peace talks, which European leaders are seeking to join. Frederiksen expressed skepticism about the initiative, stating it hadn't been coordinated with other allies.
"I'm very sceptical about this Norwegian and Finnish initiative. It hasn't been coordinated with any of the rest of us," Frederiksen told reporters at a meeting of Nordic leaders. "I honestly don't know what those two countries think they can achieve with this."
Nordic leaders defend call
Stubb and Store stressed they represented their own countries and were not speaking for Europe. They had consulted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy before initiating the call, which followed an October 20 meeting in Oslo involving Zelenskyy and US envoy Steve Witkoff.
"The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our and the broader European security. Ending the war requires direct discussions," Stubb said.
Focus on de-escalation
Store emphasized the leaders had discussed de-escalation. "The war comes with enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will impact generations," he said. Both Finland and Norway border Russia and have supported Ukraine throughout the conflict.
Stubb described the conversation as "frank and substantive." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the call, the first between the three leaders. Zelenskyy spoke with the Nordic leaders after their conversation with Putin.
"Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine, and the efforts to find a just and lasting peace," Stubb wrote on social media.
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