Putin's Medieval History Monologue Delays Nordic Leaders' Ceasefire Push
The call with Finland and Norway focused on medieval roots of conflict rather than a ceasefire, with Ukraine's energy security barely mentioned.
By Daniel Bernard ·
Russian President Vladimir Putin dominated a phone conversation with his Nordic counterparts on October 27 by focusing on historical grievances rather than practical steps to end the war in Ukraine.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that the call was intended to last under thirty minutes but stretched to ninety. During that time, Putin delivered a monologue on what the Kremlin defines as the initial causes of the conflict. The discussion covered medieval Slavic history rather than the mechanics of a truce.
Three sources familiar with the call told the Financial Times that the prospect of an immediate ceasefire received minimal attention. This is the central demand from Kyiv for starting the peace process. By contrast, the Kremlin’s official account noted that Putin reminded the leaders of the root causes of the war.
The Nordic leaders chose not to interrupt Putin during these historical digressions. One source explained that they wanted to assess how seriously he was approaching dialogue with Europe. This was the first direct conversation between Putin and a European ally of Ukraine since July 2025, when he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the leaders of Norway and Finland discussed de-escalation measures, specifically regarding Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that the call had been coordinated with Kyiv. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed deep skepticism about the outcome, noting that the conversation had not been coordinated with other European nations.
This approach mirrors Putin’s behavior during a 2025 meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska. There, Putin also delivered a lengthy historical speech about Ukraine. Trump reportedly became angry and threatened to leave the room. The recent phone call highlights the continued gap between Moscow’s narrative and the immediate security concerns of its European neighbors.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
