On Oct. 29, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had a telephone conversation about their disagreement over a recent joint Norwegian‑Finnish call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The disagreement centered on a 90‑minute call that took place on Tuesday between Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Putin, which Norway said had been conducted with its European partners consulted beforehand.
Støre told the Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv that the two leaders had a "good phone conversation" and "agreed that we have different views on that particular call." He added that Norway’s key allies had been consulted ahead of time and briefed afterwards.
"We had a good phone conversation yesterday and agreed that we have different views on that particular call," Støre said.
Frederiksen, however, criticised the initiative, saying it had not been coordinated with Denmark or other European allies. She said she did not know what Norway and Finland believed the call could achieve, a statement reported by The Copenhagen Post.
The 90‑minute call focused on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and promote peace and stability in Europe. According to Støre’s office, the discussion took place in consultation with Ukraine and followed talks in Oslo on Oct. 20. Støre and Stubb presented themselves as leaders of their respective countries, not as representatives of Europe as a whole.
The disagreement highlights the delicate balance European allies must strike when engaging with Russia. Both leaders stressed the importance of cooperation, yet the conversation underscores the complexity of coordinating diplomatic actions among NATO partners.
