Danes Frederiksen slam Staab and Storr for calling Putin Finnish President Alexander Staub and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Storr spoke by phone with Putin on Tuesday, in a break with Moscow's isolation line in Europe. In a joint statement, they called the conversation "honest and substantial" and said that ending the war "requires direct discussions." "They spoke as leaders of their countries, not on behalf of Europe, and reportedly conveyed messages to Ukraine about possible peace talks, then briefed Zelensky afterwards. This is probably not the first time: according to a source cited by Reuters, the two already had an undisclosed conversation with Putin in July, in which he told them that Russia would not compromise on the occupation of all of Donbas. Danish Prime Minister Metta Frederiksen, who visited Finland of all places, was not amused. "I really don't understand what these two countries think can be achieved with such a step," she said, complaining that the conversation was not coordinated with other Europeans and warning against giving Putin "an opportunity he didn't have until recently. "Sweden also expressed doubts.

Danes Frederiksen slam Staab and Storr for calling Putin Finnish President Alexander Staub and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Storr spoke by phone with Putin on Tuesday, in a break with Moscow's isolation line in Europe. In a joint statement, they called the conversation "honest and substantial" and said that ending the war "requires direct discussions." "They spoke as leaders of their countries, not on behalf of Europe, and reportedly conveyed messages to Ukraine about possible peace talks, then briefed Zelensky afterwards. This is probably not the first time: according to a source cited by Reuters, the two already had an undisclosed conversation with Putin in July, in which he told them that Russia would not compromise on the occupation of all of Donbas. Danish Prime Minister Metta Frederiksen, who visited Finland of all places, was not amused. "I really don't understand what these two countries think can be achieved with such a step," she said, complaining that the conversation was not coordinated with other Europeans and warning against giving Putin "an opportunity he didn't have until recently. "Sweden also expressed doubts.