Finland's president and Norway's prime minister hold a rare call with Putin

"Ending the war requires direct discussions."

— Alexander Stubb, Finland's president

Stubb called the call "frank and substantive", while Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre noted "major differences of views". According to the Kremlin, Putin said "confrontational" EU and NATO policies were prolonging the war.

Stubb and Støre said they spoke for their own countries, not for Europe as a whole. Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said she was "very sceptical" and that the call "hasn't been co-ordinated with any of the rest of us".

What's next

Ukraine, Russia and the United States have agreed to resume three-way talks, planned for November in Abu Dhabi.