Leaders of Norway, Finland hold rare call with Putin in break with previous European stance

The leaders of Finland and Norway called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to urge him to end the war in Ukraine, breaking with a longstanding practice among Western European leaders of shunning direct contact with the Kremlin.

The phone call by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere was a bid to influence the diplomatic process at a time when President Donald Trump has shifted his position in favor of Russia and U.S. ties with Ukraine have hit their lowest point in 18 months.

The Nordic leaders spoke by phone to Putin and afterward to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Zelenskyy aide.

“The discussion (with Putin) was frank and substantive. We are neighboring countries to Russia. 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 in a joint statement with Stoere.

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---- " '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 in a joint statement with Stoere."

Looking back at what Sutbb had also said, last July:

"Finnish President Alexander Stubb told CNBC Tuesday that Ukraine has already won the war against Russia — even as he warned that Kyiv still urgently needs more air defense support from NATO allies."
Ukraine has already won the war against Russia, Finnish president tells CNBC CNBC, 7 July 2026

Since Ukraine already won, why isn't the war over? "Ukraine has already won the war" last July.

What about crazy Putin’s days? I can understand why some may not like President Zelenskyy, but in an older time he would have been viewed as a hero doing what he can to fight against a far larger bully. Sure, he can be brusque, he can come across as unappreciative, maybe even entitled, he’s surrounded by corrupt people, and he’s mostly unwilling to negotiate in the way many here would want him to (nigh capitulation). I undeestand that.

However, when one’s country is being attacked by a large adversary, and weapons are in short supply, one might be forgiven for being a bit rough around the edges. I wouldnt invite Zelenskky over for Thanksgiving dinner, but I have to admire his zeal and how he has blunted Russia’s three day war into an almost 5 year old military boondoggle. If, say, America was facing a trade war with China or Israel was facing an existential crisis with Iran, I would understand if President Trump was a bit brusque when it came to conducting a defensive trade war in defense of the American economy, or if Netanyahu was very rough when it comes to defending the existence of the state of Israel.

Which is why I give Zelenskyy some grace. He is fighting an existential war against a far larger enemy, and doing a relatively good job at it. As I was saying on an earlier thread, the Russian’s have not even been able to cross the Dnipro river! It is a very difficult job though, and i can see why he’d be more than rough around the edges. I can also understand why he is unwilling to surrender (as some want him to do), in the same way the brave Spartans refused to yield to Persian demands.

I would also expect that King Leonidas to have been rough, demanding of fellow Greek support, maybe come across as entitled to the Athenians and other Greek city states, and when he marched off to Thermopylae, coming across as crazy. I am sure that when Ephialtes of Trachis asked him to surrender, and Leonidas declined, the Thespans and Thebians who later died alongside the Spartans were disappointed.

Niw, Zelenskyy may not be King Leonidas, but like the character he faces off against a bully and spits in the bully’s eye. There was a time that would have been admired here.

Also, maybe ‘Lil Zeke’s’ days are numbered. But so are Putin’s, and not only that, but Putin has shown his country to be weak and a third-rate power that would be totally incompetent were it not for the threat of nukes.

…and it was Putin that attacked a sovereign nation. No matter his ‘reasons’ for doing so, it was Putin who invaded.

“Why won’t they negotiate?
That’s silly.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If a gang of thugs took over 20% of your house including a family member of yours... what would you negotiate ?

It was a long-standing US policy to never negotiate with terrorists.
So how could Ukraine negotiate with Kremlin thieves and hostage-takers?

Thus, why should Ukraine give delinquents negotiating capacity?

We are conservatives, just like Ukraine.
Peace trough Strength is what Ukraine does.

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