Leaders of Finland, Norway speak with Putin by phone | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News - NHKニュース

The leaders of Finland and Norway have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the fighting in Ukraine, as peace talks are expected to be held next month.

Finland's presidential office announced on Tuesday that President Alexander Stubb and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere jointly spoke with Putin on the phone.

The call was related to talks on a peace plan for Russia and Ukraine, expected to take place next month in the United Arab Emirates. The United States will also take part.

Stubb and Stoere told Putin that their countries would continue their longstanding support for Ukraine.

They also stressed that the war must end and negotiations resume.

Western media report the call was the first direct contact between Putin and European leaders allied with Kyiv since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with him in July last year.

The Russian presidential office said Putin repeated his stance that peace in Ukraine could be achieved only if Russia's interests are fully taken into account.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told reporters on Tuesday that the phone call had been coordinated with Ukraine.

The move appears aimed at underscoring Ukraine's strong ties with Europe, as US President Donald Trump takes a pro-Russian stance.