Zelenskyy defends leaders of Finland and Norway over Putin talks

Key Points:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for their direct call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, viewing it as a transparent effort to open communication channels and aid peace efforts.
• The call, in which Stubb and Støre urged Putin to end the war in Ukraine, drew criticism from some European leaders who feared it undermined European unity and risked fracturing the collective approach to Russia.
• Zelenskyy highlighted that contacts with Russia have occurred before, including during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Putin, but praised the Nordic leaders for their openness and clear objectives in the dialogue.
• Several EU officials and leaders, including those from Denmark, Sweden, and Italy, expressed skepticism or concern about separate national initiatives, emphasizing the need for a unified European mandate and coordinated peace negotiation efforts.
• The European Commission responded cautiously, acknowledging the bilateral nature of the call while reaffirming that negotiations with Russia are ongoing through various formats involving multiple levels of European leadership.