Putin gives 90-minute "history lecture" during call with Norwegian and Finnish leaders
During a phone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Russian leader Vladimir Putin spent almost the entire conversation discussing the "initial reasons for the conflict" with Ukraine instead of discussing how to end the war.
Source: Financial Times
Quote: "Vladimir Putin used most of his call with the leaders of Finland and Norway to lecture them about medieval Slavic history, underscoring the difficulties Europe faces in asserting itself in upcoming peace talks with Russia."
Details: Stubb told Finnish media that the call, which was supposed to last less than half an hour, dragged on for 90 minutes.
According to three sources familiar with the conversation, instead of discussing the key issues involved in ending the war, Putin delivered a lengthy monologue to the Nordic leaders about the "initial reasons for the conflict", as the Kremlin calls them.
By contrast, the prospect of an immediate ceasefire – Ukraine's main demand for starting the peace process – was barely discussed, according to the FT's sources.
One source said that the Nordic leaders had decided not to interrupt Putin during his "historical asides" so that they could gauge how seriously he was approaching dialogue with Europe.
It was the first conversation between the Kremlin leader and any of Ukraine's European allies since July 2025, when Putin spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Background:
- On 27 October, Stubb and Støre held a phone call with Putin.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during the conversation, the leaders of Norway and Finland discussed steps to de-escalate the war, particularly in relation to Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
- The Kremlin's account of the call said that Putin had, among other things, reminded Stubb and Støre of the "root causes" of the war against Ukraine.
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen later said she was highly sceptical about the outcome of the call, which had allegedly not been coordinated with other European countries.
- Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that the call had been coordinated with the Ukrainian side.
- During a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska in 2025, Putin delivered another lengthy "historical" speech about Ukraine. This did not go down well with Trump, who became angry and even threatened to walk out.
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