Stubb on his call with Putin: he listens, but position unchanged

Finnish President Stubb said that Vladimir Putin was very smart, attentive and calm during their phone call, and that he knows how to listen. At the same time, Stubb said, Russia's position has not changed: Putin still denies Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The call lasted about 90 minutes. In an interview, as reported by a German newspaper, Stubb defended the call and described the conversation as “good and direct.” In his words, if Europe wants to take part in negotiations, it cannot stay silent and mute itself; it has to speak to the Russians directly. Stubb said Putin was “very analytical and very well prepared.”

How the call is being explained

Norwegian Prime Minister Støre also spoke about the call this week. According to him, they tried to explain to Putin why Europe supports Ukraine, and European voices must reach him. An unnamed senior European official told Politico something similar: it is important that US President Donald Trump is not the only Western leader talking to Putin.

Criticism and disputes over what was said

A British business newspaper, citing three people familiar with the content of the call in late October, reported that Putin spent almost all of the time lecturing both leaders on medieval Slavic history. Stubb and Støre have since rejected that account.

The call by the European leaders prompted a wave of criticism. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reacted especially sharply: in her view, Finland and Norway acted at their own risk. “We must keep Europe united, not each go our own way,” she said on Tuesday. Frederiksen sees no signs that Russia wants peace with Europe.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz