Finland and Norway open talks with Putin

The leaders of Finland and Norway spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone yesterday to discuss ending the Ukraine war. Finnish President Alexander Stubb called the discussion “frank and substantive.” This follows the two leaders’ meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo last week. Other European leaders criticized the call, which had not been coordinated with them. But Russia has probably already done a behind-the-scenes deal with Germany. High fuel prices are piling pressure on Europe to come to a public deal. Watch for Germany to lead Europe into Russia’s camp. For more, read “Germany vs. Russia—Behind the Headlines.”