Rome, 27 Oct. (LaPresse) – The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Finnish Presidency announced this, explaining that the conversation “follows the meeting in Oslo on 20 October and was organised in consultation with Ukraine”. Stubb and Støre – the statement explains – initiated the call to discuss “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict and promoting peace and stability in Europe”. The two leaders made it clear that they were speaking on behalf of their own countries “and not on behalf of Europe as a whole”. Norway and Finland – the statement reads – share a common interest in stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. “This point was emphasised during the conversation,” it is noted. Stubb and Støre went on to emphasise “that Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine as part of their long-standing commitment” and also reiterated “the need to end the war and resume negotiations”. “The discussion was frank and substantive. We are countries bordering Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our security and on European security in general. Ending the war requires direct dialogue”, said Finnish President Stubb. “The war entails enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will affect generations to come. In our appeal, we emphasised the importance of de-escalation”, said Norwegian Prime Minister Støre. The telephone call – it is specified – took place in Helsinki.
Ukraine: telephone conversation between the President of Finland, the Prime Minister of Norway and Putin
Rome, 27 Oct. (LaPresse) – The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Finnish Presidency announced this, explaining that the conversation “follows the meeting in Oslo on 20 October and was organised in consultation with Ukraine”. Stubb and Støre – the statement explains – initiated the call to discuss “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict and promoting peace and stability in Europe”. The two leaders made it clear that they were speaking on behalf of their own countries “and not on behalf of Europe as a whole”. Norway and Finland – the statement reads – share a common interest in stability and predictability in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. “This point was emphasised during the conversation,” it is noted. Stubb and Støre went on to emphasise “that Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine as part of their long-standing commitment” and also reiterated “the need to end the war and resume negotiations”. “The discussion was frank and substantive. We are countries bordering Russia. The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on our security and on European security in general. Ending the war requires direct dialogue”, said Finnish President Stubb. “The war entails enormous human and material costs. The suffering and destruction will affect generations to come. In our appeal, we emphasised the importance of de-escalation”, said Norwegian Prime Minister Støre. The telephone call – it is specified – took place in Helsinki.