Nordic call to Putin opens rift in Europe on Ukraine

The conversation between Nordic leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed deepening divisions among Ukraine's European supporters. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store initiated the contact on Tuesday, discussing efforts to resolve the conflict and address security concerns in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea ahead of upcoming Russia-US-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi next month.

Nordic Initiative

While both Stubb and Store have been mentioned as potential candidates to represent Brussels at the negotiations, neither spoke on Europe's behalf during the call. Most Western European leaders have avoided direct contact with Moscow since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, but recent developments suggest a growing desperation to secure a place at the negotiating table.

European Backlash

Following the conversation, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen accused her Nordic colleagues of breaking ranks, emphasizing that Europe should maintain unity rather than pursue unilateral contacts with Moscow. Her criticism comes as Denmark supports Ukrainian arms manufacturer Fire Point's plans to build a missile-fuel factory on Danish soil.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also expressed surprise at not being informed of the call beforehand, stating he had "pretty low expectations for this kind of conversation." These divisions reflect ongoing tensions within European allies over diplomatic approaches to the conflict, with some leaders advocating for direct talks while others坚持 a harder line against Moscow.