Nordic Leaders Detail Putin Energy De-escalation Talk
Finnish and Norwegian officials told Moscow that specific steps on Ukraine's power grid are required.
By Kevin Sanders ·
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre raised the need for reductions in attacks on Ukrainian energy systems during a phone call they initiated with Vladimir Putin on October 27. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later stated that the pair conveyed to the Russian president that "real de-escalatory steps are needed regarding our energy and infrastructure."
Zelenskyy said he received a detailed briefing from Stubb and Støre after their discussion with Putin. He also noted that the conversation continued talks held in Oslo with representatives from the United States, Europe, and NATO, and that he values the partners' support for Ukraine's diplomacy.
The presidents also reviewed arrangements for a trilateral meeting scheduled for November with delegations from Ukraine, the United States, and Russia. Additional topics included methods for coordinating with European partners to maintain diplomatic efforts, support Ukraine's defense, and address shared security concerns.
Zelenskyy stated that Finland and Norway, due to their geographic positions bordering Russia, maintain a specific interest in dependable security arrangements. He added that "there must be peace, de-escalation is needed, and Russia must stop dragging out the war."
Earlier in the month, Putin said he was prepared to resume peace talks as soon as possible, provided the terms were acceptable to Russia. The Kremlin leader specified requirements involving the full occupation of Donbas, Ukraine's neutral status, security guarantees for Russia, and terms for long-term peace.
On October 24, Zelenskyy indicated readiness to agree to a peace deal that would freeze the war along the current front lines. He stated, however, that Ukraine would not agree to recognize that "temporarily occupied territory had become Russian." Two days later, on October 25, he identified an energy ceasefire or a trilateral leaders' meeting as potential indicators of Russia's willingness to pursue peace.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
