Two European leaders called Putin. Why did it cause such a stir?

The phone call caught many by surprise, as Stubb had never spoken with Putin before, while Store had last communicated with him in March 2022, when the geopolitical landscape differed significantly from today.

Stubb described the conversation as "frank and substantive," emphasizing that Finland and Russia are neighboring countries and that the war's outcome directly affects European security. Store issued a similar statement, suggesting coordinated messaging between the two leaders.

Allies React with Skepticism

The initiative raised eyebrows across Europe, particularly after Frederiksen revealed that the Finnish and Norwegian leaders had no mandate to speak on behalf of their allies.

Divided European Response

Store disputed Frederiksen's criticism, claiming all partners and allies had been informed ahead of the call and received detailed briefings afterward.

The outreach comes amid growing financial strains in Europe's collective budget, with Germany, Ukraine's biggest European donor, increasingly vocal about shifting the burden to other nations.

Despite these tensions, the E5 defense ministers (France, Britain, Italy, Germany, and Poland) reaffirmed their stance that "Russia represents the most acute and long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and stability" in a communiqué following their Paris meeting.

Message for Ukraine

The call serves as a wake-up call for Zelensky, indicating that "metal fatigue is setting in across Europe's political machinery" and that "time is running out for the regime in Kiev." The outreach suggests European leaders may be exploring an exit strategy while maintaining public support for Ukraine.