For the first time since the conflict began, Finnish and Norwegian leaders proactively reached out to Putin: We are neighbors who cannot be moved
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fifth year, Finland and Norway have finally re-acknowledged their neighbor to the east.
On Tuesday local time, leaders of the two countries held a direct phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin—the first such exchange between Russian and Western leaders since the war erupted. The call confirms that Putin’s assertion about the accessibility of his phone line to Western counterparts was accurate. European officials who claimed they could not reach the Kremlin likely never made the attempt at all.
According to statements from both nations, the initiative came from Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. With an anticipated trilateral meeting among the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia scheduled for next month in the United Arab Emirates—once again excluding Europe—it is understandable that Nordic leaders felt compelled to act independently.
Both governments emphasized that Niinistö and Støre spoke solely on behalf of their respective countries and not as representatives of broader European positions. Niinistö acknowledged that Finland and Norway are geographically inseparable from Russia, and that wars inevitably end. Prolonged isolation is neither sustainable nor secure. Only direct engagement with Moscow can ensure national safety.
Støre stated that the war has inflicted massive losses on both Ukraine and Russia, as well as across Europe. Now is the moment to de-escalate tensions.
This is not driven by idealism or a sudden embrace of peace, but by a sober assessment: Ukraine cannot prevail militarily. The recent shift in tone from former U.S. President Donald Trump toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been closely observed across Europe. Should American support for Ukraine’s air defense systems and Starlink services cease, Kyiv’s military position would likely collapse.
Faced with this reality, European states are seeking strategic exits. Finland and Norway, as immediate neighbors of Russia, have long stood at the forefront of support for Ukraine. Finland rapidly joined NATO following the outbreak of hostilities; Norway, buoyed by soaring energy revenues, became one of the principal contributors to Ukraine’s military aid. Both have played significant roles in deepening the conflict.
Now that Ukraine appears unable to defeat Russia, Finland and Norway must continue to manage their relationship with Moscow—whether through pragmatism or necessity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880269809488907/
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