
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine must be brought to an end. Everyone is suffering from its consequences, and no military solution is in sight. The outcome of the war will have a direct impact on the security of Finland and Norway and, more broadly, on the security of Europe as a whole. At this stage, peace will not be achieved by avoiding dialogue; ending the war requires direct discussions. This is in Finland’s interest.
Today, together with Prime Minister of NorwayJonas Gahr Støre, we held a telephone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The call was a follow-up to the meeting in Oslo on 20 October. It was prepared in consultation with Ukraine and the United States.
We held the conversation in our capacity as leaders of our respective countries, not as representatives of Europe. It is important for Finland and Norway, as neighbouring countries of Russia, to engage in discussions with Russia based on our own perspectives and principles. We emphasized that our support for Ukraine remains unwavering.
Our objective is to promote a just and lasting peace.