MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected any compromise on the Donbas region during a phone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. According to a source close to the Kremlin cited by Reuters, Moscow still insists on full control over the entire eastern Ukrainian region. The call, held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, was intended to support efforts to end the war, but brought no shift in Russia’s position.
The conversation was initiated by the leaders of Finland and Norway, who are seeking to reestablish direct diplomatic contact with Moscow ahead of the next round of peace talks.
Both leaders called on Putin to end the war against Ukraine and de-escalate tensions.
According to the Reuters source, Putin reiterated that Moscow is not willing to back down from its territorial demands.
It is important to note that this explicit rejection of compromise over Donbas comes from an anonymous Kremlin source. The official statement from the Russian presidential office did not name this demand directly.
Putin Wants Full Donbas, Ukraine Expected to Surrender More Territory
Donbas remains one of the most contentious issues in any potential peace agreement.
The region, located in eastern Ukraine, is made up of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
More than four years into Russia’s invasion, Moscow controls nearly all of Luhansk and about 80 percent of Donetsk.
Nevertheless, Russia is demanding that Ukrainian forces withdraw from all remaining territory within the region, including areas the Russian army has failed to capture.
This would require Ukraine to concede territory it still holds under its control.
Kyiv rejects any such demands.
The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly stressed that ending the conflict cannot mean the automatic recognition of occupied territories as part of Russia.
Unprecedented 90-Minute Call with the Kremlin
President Stubb and Prime Minister Støre decided to contact Putin following diplomatic discussions about Ukraine’s future.
The phone call lasted approximately 90 minutes.
The move was unusual, as most European leaders have curtailed direct contact with the Kremlin since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Stubb and Støre explained that Finland and Norway have a special interest in the security situation in Northern Europe.
Both countries share direct borders with Russia.
They emphasized that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will affect not only Kyiv’s security, but the stability of the entire European continent.
The leaders also clarified they were speaking as heads of their respective nations, not as representatives of the entire European Union.
Kremlin Asserts That Peace Must Respect Russian Interests
The Russian presidential office released its own statement after the call.
According to the Kremlin, Putin explained his perspective on the war and the conditions necessary for its end.
The Russian side maintains that a lasting peace will only be possible if the interests of the Russian Federation are fully respected.
Moscow also criticized the policies of the European Union and NATO, describing them as confrontational.
The Kremlin claims Western countries are prolonging the conflict through their current approach.
This position reflects the stance of the Russian government. The decision to launch the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was made by Russia.
European states and NATO are supporting Ukraine, arguing it has the right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has used similar rhetoric. (Aktualizovane.sk previously reported on his comments in the article “Lavrov Escalates: He Claims Europe Is Waging War Against Russia, Announces talks with the US”).
Nordic Leaders Demand a Fair Peace
According to a joint statement, Stubb and Støre stressed during the conversation the need to end military operations.
They called on Russia to take concrete steps to lower tensions.
Both leaders confirmed their continued support for Ukraine.
They stated the result of negotiations must be a lasting peace that upholds international law and the security of European countries.
They also highlighted the extensive human suffering and material destruction caused by the war.
According to them, the consequences of the conflict will be felt by future generations as well.
Finland and Norway view continued diplomatic contact as necessary, even though key differences between the parties remain.
Leaders Also Called Zelenskyy After Speaking with Putin
After the conversation with Putin, Stubb and Støre also reached out to the Ukrainian side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later praised their diplomatic efforts.
According to Zelenskyy, the Nordic leaders underlined to Putin the need to limit attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine has repeatedly faced missile and drone attacks on power plants, power grids, and other facilities.
Damage to these facilities complicates the supply of electricity and heating to civilians.
Zelenskyy urged Russia to stop prolonging the war and to take concrete steps towards ending the conflict.
Europe Divided Over Calls with Putin
The Finnish and Norwegian initiative has sparked differing reactions among Nordic countries.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the two leaders’ unilateral approach.
She stated that European countries should act in a coordinated manner toward Russia.
Frederiksen also questioned whether a direct phone call could achieve significant results, noting that Moscow has not shown willingness to shift its demands.
Similar concerns about a lack of coordination were raised in Sweden.
The Finnish and Norwegian sides stressed, however, their goal was not to weaken Europe’s united stance.
They described the call as an attempt to directly exchange positions ahead of further peace talks.
Peace Talks Planned in Abu Dhabi
A key moment will be the upcoming meeting of representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.
Information released after the call indicates that talks are planned for the first half of November 2026 in Abu Dhabi.
These will build on previous diplomatic contacts.
Discussions are expected to cover future security guarantees for Ukraine and the stability of the European region.
The presence of a Russian delegation could make direct negotiations between all three sides possible.
However, there has been no announcement of a specific agreement on territorial issues or a general ceasefire.
The gulf between Moscow’s demands and Kyiv’s position remains significant.
Why Is Donbas So Important?
Donbas is a historically significant industrial region in eastern Ukraine.
It is home to cities, transport hubs, industrial enterprises, and strategically important territory for the country’s defense.
Russian forces have been trying to achieve full control of the region since the start of their large-scale invasion.
Despite ongoing combat, Moscow has not succeeded in capturing the entire Donetsk region.
Accepting Russia’s demands would not only legitimize the current occupation but also force Ukraine to surrender territory it still holds.
Ukraine’s leadership considers such a solution unacceptable.
In addition to the loss of territory, Kyiv warns of security consequences and the risk of further attacks.
Talks Have Yet to Deliver a Breakthrough
Russian diplomacy has recently reiterated its willingness to continue contacts with the United States.
However, Moscow continues to insist on demands that Ukraine and its European partners reject.
This has created a situation in which diplomacy continues, but there is little progress on the core conditions needed for an agreement.
(Aktualizovane.sk has previously covered differences between Russian statements and the reality on the ground in the article “Russian Discontent Grows: Elites Voice Disappointment, President Refuses to Yield”).
It remains uncertain whether Moscow will show any willingness to change its territorial demands.
What Does Putin’s Message Mean for the Future of the War?
The latest phone call shows that European leaders are trying to take a more active role in diplomacy.
However, it also demonstrates just how difficult it will be to find a compromise between Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin demands full control of Donbas.
Ukraine refuses to cede more territory and seeks security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
The willingness to hold talks does not automatically mean readiness to secure a peace agreement.
According to the Reuters source, Putin reiterated that Russia will not back down from demanding the entire Donbas. Ahead of November talks, the key question remains: can a solution be found that does not require Ukraine to surrender more land to Russia?
Sources: ta3, TASR, Reuters, Euronews, Kremlin, statements from Finnish and Norwegian leaders.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
