Stubb explains purpose of call to Putin and preparations for possible talks

Details of the 90-minute contact

Finnish President Alexander Stubb provided additional explanations regarding the course of his phone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Henri Vanhanen, a senior advisor to the Economic Security Forum and an analyst in the field of foreign policy and security.

According to Vanhanen, Stubb categorically refuted the version put forward by the Financial Times newspaper in an interview with the Finnish public broadcasting company Yle, which claimed that Putin devoted most of the 90-minute conversation to a long historical account.

«У розмові з фінською державною телерадіокомпанією Yle Стубб категорично спростував версію газети Financial Times про те, що Путін більшу частину 90-хвилинної розмови присвятив довгій лекції з історії» (In his conversation with the Finnish public broadcasting company Yle, Stubb categorically refuted the Financial Times newspaper's version that Putin devoted most of the 90-minute conversation to a long lecture on history), Vanhanen noted.

According to the expert's information, Stubb said that Putin did indeed begin the dialogue with his standard interpretation of events that have been taking place since 2014. However, the nature of the conversation subsequently changed: it turned into an ordinary, substantive, and specific exchange of views, with information flowing in both directions.

Diplomatic logic and international consultations

Vanhanen emphasised that the Finnish leader explained the diplomatic logic underlying this contact.

«Ініціатива виникла в результаті обговорень з українськими та американськими представниками після зустрічі в Осло 20 жовтня. З Києвом і Вашингтоном були проведені консультації, і обидві сторони дали своє схвалення» (The initiative arose as a result of discussions with Ukrainian and American representatives after the meeting in Oslo on 20 October. Consultations were held with Kyiv and Washington, and both sides gave their approval), Vanhanen conveyed Stubb's view.

The timing of the conversation was chosen deliberately. Finland and Norway sought to speak with Putin before the scheduled negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia in Abu Dhabi. Stubb clarified that the broader goal is to create conditions for a possible personal meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. The immediate task remains achieving progress in Abu Dhabi, while a meeting between the two presidents will be the next step, provided the negotiations provide sufficient grounds for it.

Europe's role and prospects

The Finnish leader also clearly stated that his country is not trying to secure a seat at the negotiating table. He acknowledged that it had been difficult for Europeans to agree on a single representative.

«На мій погляд, це дозволяє краще зрозуміти суть цієї ініціативи. Цей заклик не мав на меті стати проривом сам по собі. Це був один із кроків у дипломатичній послідовності, покликаній підтримувати хід переговорів і, зрештою, звести двох президентів разом. Чи справді Путін готовий до переговорів - це зовсім інше питання. Його основні цілі не змінилися, і є всі підстави залишатися скептичними» (In my view, this helps to better understand the essence of this initiative. This appeal was not intended to be a breakthrough in itself. It was one of the steps in a diplomatic sequence designed to support the progress of negotiations and, ultimately, bring the two presidents together. Whether Putin is truly ready for negotiations is a completely different matter. His main goals have not changed, and there are all reasons to remain sceptical), the expert summarised.

Vanhanen added: «Справжнє випробування чекає попереду: що відбудеться в Абу-Дабі та чи готова Москва вийти за межі повторення своїх існуючих вимог» (The real test lies ahead: what will happen in Abu Dhabi and whether Moscow is ready to go beyond repeating its existing demands).