Denmark's Frederiksen slams Stubb and Støre for calling Putin

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke by phone with Putin on Tuesday, in a break with Europe's line of isolating Moscow. 

In a joint statement, they called the conversation "frank and substantive" and said ending the war "requires direct discussions." They spoke as leaders of their own countries, not on behalf of Europe, and reportedly passed on Ukrainian messages about possible peace talks, then briefed Zelensky afterward.

It's apparently not the first time: according to a source cited by Reuters, the two already held an undisclosed call with Putin in July, in which he told them Russia would not compromise on taking all of Donbass.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, visiting Finland of all places, was not amused. "I honestly don't understand what these two countries think can be achieved by such a step," she said, complaining the call wasn't coordinated with other Europeans and warning against giving Putin "an opportunity he didn't have until recently." Sweden has also expressed doubts.

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Source of information: Global News Agencies including REUTERS / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU / INT.RU / Al Jazeera / CNN