European Leaders Urge Putin to End Ukraine War in Rare Call
· World · The Independent, New York Times
President Vladimir Putin received a joint call from the leaders of Norway and Finland on Tuesday, urging him to end the war in Ukraine. The 90-minute call, initiated by President Alexander Stubb of Finland and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store of Norway from Helsinki, aimed to discuss future negotiations to help end the conflict. Store stated that both leaders stressed the importance of de-escalation and voiced strong support for Ukraine, speaking with President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately after Putin. Putin maintained that a "just and lasting peace" is only possible if Russia's interests are considered, attributing the conflict's prolongation to "confrontational" EU and NATO policies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the call as offering nothing new and suggested European countries were seeking a role in negotiations.
Why it matters
This rare direct contact between European leaders and Putin highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, which has significant geopolitical and economic implications globally. The differing views expressed indicate the persistent challenges in finding a resolution to the conflict.
Read the original report — The Independent
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