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- Ukrainian president says Alexander Stubb, Jonas Gahr Store ‘made it clear’ to Russian president that ‘real de-escalatory steps are needed regarding our energy, infrastructure’
By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday held a phone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store after the two Nordic leaders spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day.
On US social media platform X, Zelenskyy said his call with Stubb and Store additionally took place as a continuation of their discussions in the Norwegian capital Oslo last Tuesday, which also involved representatives of the US, Europe, and NATO, and thanked the two for their briefing and active support for Kyiv’s diplomacy and peace efforts.
“Alex and Jonas made it clear to the Russian leader that real de-escalatory steps are needed regarding our energy and infrastructure,” Zelenskyy said, noting they also discussed preparations for US-mediated trilateral peace talks planned for next month.
Saying that Finland and Norway, as countries bordering Russia, have a particular interest in “sound and reliable” security arrangements, Zelenskyy said they also discussed various formats for their engagement with partners in Europe that “could be useful in further supporting diplomacy, our defense, and our shared security.”
“There must be peace, de-escalation is needed, and Russia must stop dragging out the war,” Zelenskyy added.
His statement came soon after Stubb and Store's phone call with Putin, which the Nordic leaders initiated to discuss the ongoing war, as well as diplomatic efforts to end it and promote peace and stability in Europe.
“The aim of the call was to convey messages directly regarding future negotiations to help to end the war to President Putin. The call was related to the upcoming meetings to be held in Abu Dhabi,” said a corresponding statement by the Finnish presidency.
Separately, a Kremlin statement said that the three leaders welcomed an agreement to resume trilateral peace talks in early November, noting that Putin had said that reaching a “just and lasting” settlement is only possible with “full and unconditional consideration” of Russia’s interests.
“At the same time, attention was drawn to the confrontational policies of EU and NATO countries, which are leading to a prolongation of hostilities,” the statement said, adding that issues of ensuring security and stability in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe were also discussed.
Moscow and Kyiv last held US-mediated peace negotiations earlier this year, with three rounds of talks this January and February, in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
Burç Eruygur
