Russian President Vladimir Putin has described a recent telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as a welcome step toward restoring diplomatic channels with Europe following years of severe strain prompted by the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Thursday, Putin noted that while Stubb and Støre emphasized they were speaking exclusively for their respective nations, the dialogue demonstrated that certain European figures favor constructive engagement over ongoing confrontation. Moscow supports any measures directed toward normalizing relations with European states, the Russian leader added.
The phone call, which took place on Tuesday, marked the first direct communication between a Russian president and senior leaders of Ukraine’s European allies since July of the previous year, when Putin spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to the Nordic leaders, the outreach followed prior consultations with Ukraine and was undertaken to address potential pathways toward ending the conflict.
The Kremlin’s official readout of the discussion indicated that the participants also addressed regional security and stability concerning the Baltic Sea and northern Europe, while mutually agreeing to sustain direct telephone communications.
The diplomatic exchange coincided with a surge of military activity. On Thursday, Russian airstrikes across Ukraine resulted in the deaths of 19 civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the strikes as evidence of Moscow’s genuine stance regarding de-escalation.
Addressing wider regional tensions, including commercial shipping safety and Russian oil exports traversing the Baltic Sea, Putin emphasized mutual support for adhering to international maritime law. Warning against potential maritime disruptions, he drew comparisons to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that while Moscow wishes to avoid such outcomes, it remains prepared to respond to any challenges.
Putin further asserted that Russia holds no aggressive intentions toward Europe, dismissing continental rhetoric warning of a potential conflict by the year 2030. He remarked that European efforts aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow have failed and remain unlikely to succeed by the end of the decade, cautioning that escalation would leave no victors.
