Stubb and Store call Putin as Kyiv bridge hit by missiles

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store placed a rare telephone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The leaders used the conversation to convey messages regarding future negotiations. This direct contact occurred while Russian forces continued attacks on Ukraine’s capital.

Kyiv officials reported that the South Bridge was struck during overnight attacks. The city faced 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces struck again while emergency crews were still dealing with the aftermath of the initial strikes. He described the events as a serious escalation in Russia’s campaign targeting logistics.

Stubb and Store spoke from Helsinki and emphasized the need for real steps to de-escalate attacks on energy facilities and infrastructure. Zelenskyy, who spoke to the pair afterwards, said the discussion covered preparations for November talks. He urged for peace and noted that Russia must stop dragging out the war. Both Nordic leaders stressed that the war’s outcome would directly affect the security of their countries and Europe.

The calls were held in consultation with Ukraine as a follow-up to talks in Oslo on October 20. Those talks included Zelenskyy and US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg the day after the Oslo meeting. The Kremlin subsequently declared readiness to resume US-mediated talks with Kyiv that had stalled in February.

Kyiv and Moscow agreed on Friday to hold US-mediated technical meetings in Abu Dhabi in early November. Russian attacks also caused deaths and injuries in Kharkiv and Pavlohrad. In the Russian-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region, a drone strike on a bus killed one person and injured 30 others. A separate drone attack on the Russian city of Bryansk killed one person and wounded six others.

US President Donald Trump credited First Lady Melania Trump with securing a localised ceasefire in the southern Kherson region. That ceasefire took effect on Tuesday to allow aid into the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky. Stubb noted that ending the war requires direct discussions. Store added that the two leaders had stressed the importance of de-escalation during the call. Both said they spoke for their own nations rather than Europe.