The Guardian
Finnish and Norwegian leaders’ call to Putin sparks rare Nordic rift
Finland’s and Norway’s leaders spoke with Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes, prompting criticism from Denmark and Sweden. Public foreign-policy disputes are rare among Nordic countries, particularly over Russia. Europe has no single representative conducting direct negotiations with Moscow, and some leaders are pursuing separate lines of communication amid disagreement about the value of such contact.
What to know
- 01
The leaders of Finland and Norway held a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism from Denmark and Sweden.
- 02
Some European leaders are establishing their own channels to Moscow without a single European representative handling direct negotiations.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights differing European views on whether to engage directly with Putin.
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