Putin Discusses Ukraine Crisis With Finnish and Norwegian Leaders

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation on October 27 with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the request of the Finnish and Norwegian sides. The leaders discussed efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis, the Russian president’s office said.

They exchanged views following Putin’s October 21 talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as meetings in Oslo between Stubb and Støre, Witkoff and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The leaders welcomed an agreement to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. The talks are expected to address security arrangements for Russia and Ukraine following a complete cessation of hostilities.

Putin outlined his assessment of the situation in the conflict zone and referred to what he described as the crisis’s root causes. He said a just and lasting peace could be achieved only if Russia’s legitimate interests were fully and unconditionally taken into account. He also said the policies of European Union and NATO countries were prolonging the hostilities.

The leaders also discussed security and stability in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. Stubb and Støre stressed the importance of respecting international maritime law and freedom of navigation.

Putin briefed them on a U.S.-mediated humanitarian operation near the Russian town of Alyoshki and a temporary ceasefire in the Kherson sector intended to facilitate it.

The three leaders agreed to maintain direct telephone contact.