Norway asked Financial Times to correct its report on Putin's call with European leaders
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre disputed Financial Times' report that Vladimir Putin dominated a call with him and Finnish President Alexander Stubb by lecturing about medieval Slavic history. Norway asked the publication to correct the article or publish a rebuttal, but Financial Times declined. Støre said the participants spoke for roughly equal amounts of time and that Putin responded to their proposals after being invited to present his own view.
მთავარი მომენტები
- The call with Vladimir Putin took place on October 27 and lasted approximately 90 minutes.
- A translator participated, and Støre said the speaking time was distributed approximately equally.
- The leaders discussed de-escalation, ending Russia's war against Ukraine and security guarantees for Ukraine.
- They also discussed attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and grain-exporting vessels, a possible prisoner exchange and a European channel for dialogue with Russia.
- Støre said Putin asked to present his own view and discussed events from 2014 up to the call.
- Norway asked Financial Times to correct its report or publish a rebuttal; the publication declined.
რატომ არის მნიშვნელოვანი
The disagreement centers on whether the call was mainly about Ukraine and de-escalation or was dominated by Putin's historical narrative. The dispute also illustrates a direct conflict between the participants' account and Financial Times' characterization based on three anonymous sources. The call addressed the war, security guarantees for Ukraine, infrastructure protection, prisoner exchanges and possible European dialogue with Russia, leaving the competing accounts unresolved.
რა მოხდა
On October 27, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb spoke with Vladimir Putin by telephone for approximately 90 minutes. The call had initially been planned to last less than 30 minutes, and a translator took part in it. Støre and Stubb presented their positions and asked Putin to respond, seeking options for de-escalation, ending the war, security guarantees for Ukraine, an end to attacks on energy infrastructure and grain-exporting vessels, a possible prisoner exchange and a European channel for dialogue with Russia. Støre later said Putin asked to present his own view and discussed events from 2014 onward. After the call, Støre and Stubb informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while the European Commission had been notified in advance.
როგორ აშუქებენ უკრაინული წყაროები
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the agenda relevant to Ukraine: ending the war, guarantees of security, protection of infrastructure and vessels transporting grain, a possible prisoner exchange and preparations for further negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States. The reports also focus on whether the European leaders successfully put forward their proposals concerning Ukraine's interests.
როგორ აშუქებენ საერთაშორისო წყაროები
International coverage centers on the media dispute between Norway's prime minister and Financial Times over the content and balance of the call. The European leaders' version stresses their proposals, Putin's response, approximately equal speaking time and the use of a translator.
სად განსხვავდება გაშუქება
Financial Times reported, citing three anonymous sources, that Putin devoted nearly the entire call to medieval Slavic history and historical explanations of the conflict with Ukraine instead of discussing peaceful settlement. Støre rejected this characterization, saying Putin spoke after the participants presented their positions, the speaking time was approximately equal and he did not dominate the conversation. Norway requested a correction or published rebuttal, but Financial Times declined, citing its journalistic principles.
კონტექსტი
The approximately 90-minute call took place ahead of US-mediated peace talks planned for the following month. Støre and Stubb participated as leaders of their own countries rather than on behalf of Europe. The conversation was described as Putin's first direct contact with European leaders supporting Ukraine since his call with Emmanuel Macron in July 2025.