In brief
Norwegian and Danish leaders held a phone call to discuss differences over a joint call with Putin, with Norway emphasizing partner consultation and Denmark criticizing lack of coordination, as reported by Xinhua and The Copenhagen Post.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen held a telephone conversation on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, to address their differing views on a joint Norwegian‑Finnish call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that took place earlier that week, according to Xinhua.
Xinhua reported that the 90‑minute call held on Tuesday involved Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Putin, and that it had been organized in consultation with Ukraine and followed talks in Oslo on Oct. 20. The Norwegian prime minister said the call focused on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and promote peace and stability in Europe, and that Norway had consulted its key partners and allies beforehand and briefed them afterward.
The Copenhagen Post added that Frederiksen said she did not know what Norway and Finland believed the call could achieve, and that she criticized the initiative for not being coordinated with Denmark or other European allies, citing prior agreements among European countries.
Moscow News echoed the same point, noting that Støre had spoken with Frederiksen about their disagreement and that the call was framed by Norway as a bilateral negotiation rather than a European-wide effort.
