Phone call with Putin generates criticism. Brussels asks for unity

A European Commission today asked the European Union (EU) to remain united in the message when speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin and ensured that it remains determined to increase pressure on Moscow.

This appeal was left by the spokesman of the European Commission Paula Pinho at the daily press conference of the Community executive, in reaction to the telephone call that the President of Finland and the Prime Minister of Norway made on Tuesday with Russian Head of State Vladimir Putin, which generated criticism from some Member States, such as Sweden and Denmark.

Paula Pinho pointed out that the European Commission was informed that the call would take place, which she described as a “bilateral contact”, and argued that the most important thing is that the EU should keep “a common message” when it talks to Putin.

“The EU is united in its commitment not only to end this horrible war, but also to achieve a just and lasting peace. This is the position that we have advocated in the negotiations that are under way,” he said, insisting that the EU must “keep its unity” in the message that it transmits to Putin.

In turn, the spokesman for the European Commission for Foreign Affairs Christian Wigand stressed that, in the conclusions of the recent European Council summit on 15 and 16 October, leaders made it clear that “the EU remains determined to increase pressure on Russia”.

“The European Council also underlined the importance of continuing sustained efforts to provide military support to Ukraine. We therefore continue to support Ukraine. Unfortunately, so far, Russia has shown no signs of being willing to end the war,” he said.

The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke this Tuesday with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, following recent discussions between the Ukrainian President and US emissaries in Oslo, announced the four capitals.

Conducted on the initiative of the two Nordic leaders, hosts of the Oslo meeting on October 20, the conversation with Vladimir Putin “was frank and substantial,” said Finnish President Alexander Stubb, quoted in a joint statement.

The discussion took place in consultation with Ukraine, Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store needed in the statement quoted by the French agency AFP.

The Danish and Swedish Prime Ministers expressed skepticism about the decision to resume contacts with Putin.

In particular, Danish Mette Frederiksen argued that Europe should remain united, “instead of acting alone”, and said that it did not see any sign that Russia “want peace”.

The Finnish President later mentioned that the three-way telephone conversation was not a peace mediation, but a way of transmitting the message from Ukraine to Putin.

“ We are not peacemakers, we work 100% for Ukraine. We would never have had the phone conversation without the green light from Ukraine,” Stubb said.