Finnish president defends phone call with Putin as European leaders break ranks
Several European leaders have held a direct phone call with Vladimir Putin, with Finland's president arguing that ending the war requires direct talks.
Finland's president has defended his decision to speak directly with Vladimir Putin, arguing that ending the war in Ukraine requires direct discussions with the Kremlin leader. The call marks a departure from the approach taken by many European governments, which have largely kept their distance from Moscow since the full-scale invasion began.
The phone call was described as frank, a term often used in diplomacy to signal that the conversation was candid and that positions were not softened. Details of what was discussed were limited in the material available, and the Kremlin's account of the exchange has not been independently confirmed.
The move comes as the broader diplomatic picture around the war remains unsettled. European governments have been divided over how far to engage with Moscow, with some favouring continued sanctions and military support for Kyiv and others arguing that channels of communication must remain open if any negotiated settlement is to be reached.
Finland shares a long border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023, a shift that reflected a sharp change in its security policy after the invasion of Ukraine. Its leadership has therefore been closely watched for signals on how Helsinki sees its relationship with Moscow in the current climate.
Supporters of direct contact argue that dialogue is the only route to a durable truce, while critics warn that such calls can give the Kremlin a propaganda platform and risk undermining the unity of Ukraine's Western partners. The Finnish president's defence of the call places him firmly in the first camp, at least for now.
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