Finland and Norway open direct talks with Putin despite criticism | DW News

A phone call between Alexander Stubb, Jonas Gahr Store and Vladimir Putin has exposed a debate among Ukraine's European allies. Finland and Norway say direct talks are necessary to push for an end to the war and were conducted in consultation with Kyiv. But Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the initiative was not coordinated with partners and risks weakening European unity. DW's Juri Rescheto, Riga bureau chief, explains what Moscow hopes to gain and whether the contact could lead to further diplomacy.

00:00 – Nordic leaders break Western precedent with Putin call
00:32 – Criticism from Denmark & calls for European unity
01:14 – Finland's President defends direct diplomatic outreach
02:05 – Kremlin response: Hardline rhetoric vs. open channels
03:19 – Testing alternative channels with European leaders
04:40 – Impact on European unity & Kremlin strategy
06:00 – Broader diplomatic activity: Managing vs. ending the war

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