Putin lectures Nordic leaders on Slavic history during long phone call

Russian President Vladimir Putin spent the majority of a phone call with his Finnish and Norwegian counterparts discussing medieval Slavic history instead of negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Financial Times reported that this approach revealed the difficulty Europe faces in getting its voice heard in upcoming peace negotiations.

The conversation occurred on 27 October. Finnish President Alexander Stubb told domestic media that the call was initially expected to last under 30 minutes but extended to 90 minutes. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also participated in the discussion.

Three sources familiar with the exchange told the Financial Times that Putin delivered a long monologue on what the Kremlin describes as the initial reasons for the conflict. One source noted that the Nordic leaders decided not to interrupt the historical asides. They wanted to assess how seriously Putin was taking dialogue with Europe. An immediate ceasefire, which Ukraine considers its primary condition for starting a peace process, received little attention during the talk.

This was the first direct contact between Putin and a European ally of Ukraine since July 2025. At that time, he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Stubb and Støre had discussed de-escalation steps, specifically regarding Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Kremlin account claimed Putin reminded the two leaders of the root causes of the war.

European leaders reacted differently to the outcome. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed high skepticism, noting that the call had not been coordinated with other European nations. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha countered that the Ukrainian side had been consulted beforehand.

Putin’s tendency to use long historical speeches has a recent precedent. During a 2025 meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Putin gave an extended presentation on Ukrainian history. Reports indicated that Trump grew angry during the speech and threatened to leave the room.

The disparity in narratives between Kyiv, Moscow, and the Nordic capitals leaves the path to a ceasefire unclear. The 90-minute duration suggests a willingness to engage, yet the content suggests a focus on historical justification rather than immediate tactical agreements.