Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, supported the leaders of Finland and Norway for establishing contact with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, in efforts to achieve a peace agreement.
Zelensky's Support for Diplomatic Efforts
In a 90-minute call held on Tuesday, Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland, and Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Norway, urged Putin to end the war against Ukraine. However, some European leaders deemed this contact a mistake and criticized Stubb and Støre for potentially undermining European unity in the face of the Russian President. In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Zelensky praised the two Nordic leaders for their contributions and described them as having good relations with Ukraine.
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Criticism and Diplomatic Sensitivities
Zelensky added that Putin emerged from diplomatic isolation last year when former U.S. President Donald Trump met with him in Alaska. He stated, "Since then, Europeans have also been in contact with Russia, although they have not done so publicly like the leaders of Finland and Norway." Zelensky emphasized that diplomatic contacts at various levels and aimed at gathering information should be given more attention.
He added, "Everyone knows that contacts have existed at the levels of national security advisors and between intelligence agencies. But here, everything is completely public: upcoming discussions, a full consultation, and clear objectives." Zelensky emphasized that Finland and Norway are trying to establish new channels for communication so that Europe receives information not only through the United States.
The question of whether and how Europe should talk to Putin is a sensitive issue for officials and diplomats among Ukraine's allies in the European Union and beyond. An official from the capital of a European country, who requested anonymity, stated that formats like E3 (Germany, France, and the UK) work well. He also added that breaking the unified European voice by allowing each country to initiate its own negotiations with Moscow is a misguided action.
The Italian government was dissatisfied with Stubb and Støre's contact with Putin and considered it a sign of disagreement within Europe regarding representation from the region in peace negotiations. A government official from Rome warned that separate national initiatives and changing diplomatic formats could diminish Europe's influence.
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