Finnish President Alexander Stubb presents Putin call as part of Baltic deterrence

Finnish President Alexander Stubb described direct dialogue with Vladimir Putin as a means of maintaining strategic stability, particularly in the Baltic region, Defence24 reports. According to the outlet, he set out his position on 2 November 2026, at the opening of Finland’s 258th National Defence Course. The specific explanations and quotations from the speech currently come only from Defence24; at the time of publication, Flank had found no independent confirmation of this wording.

Norwegian prime minister also took part in the call

According to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle, the telephone call with Putin took place on 27 October, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also participating. Topics discussed included Ukraine, stability in the Baltic region and the High North.

Yle’s report examines Russian coverage of the contact and statements issued by the institutions. It adds to the information about the call itself, but does not confirm the explanations that Defence24 attributes to Stubb in his speech six days later.

Yle has also published a video identified as Stubb’s speech at the opening of the course on 2 November. The accompanying text confirms the occasion, but Flank has not checked the contents of the recording.

A firm message without provocation

According to Defence24, Stubb identified two objectives for the contact: limiting the risk of new conflict situations and reaffirming Finland’s unwavering support for Ukraine. The outlet quotes him as saying that the message was delivered firmly, but without provocation, and that such communication should be seen as part of deterrence.

In this reasoning, reducing the risk of miscalculation and supporting Ukraine are compatible objectives.

This, however, is an explanation of intentions, not evidence of an outcome achieved. The available reports do not establish whether specific measures to prevent incidents were agreed or whether the call actually reduced the risk of escalation.