Denmark, Estonia express skepticism over Finland and Norway’s call with Putin
Estonia’s foreign minister put a sharp point on it: talks with Putin are not neutral gestures, they carry political meaning. When Finland and Norway pick up the phone, Baltic states hear the sound of a door being reopened that they have spent years trying to bolt shut. That tension is real, and it is not just about etiquette.
I think the skeptical reaction is understandable. Russia’s war in Ukraine has not changed course, and there is little public evidence that Putin is ready to negotiate in good faith. For countries that share a border with Russia, every contact can look like a concession. But I also see why Nordic leaders might want to talk. If you believe diplomacy is part of deterrence, keeping a line open is not the same as endorsing the other side. The question is whether those calls are coordinated with allies or done on a whim.
What I would want to know next is what was actually discussed. Without that, the public debate is mostly about optics. Both sides have a fair point, and the worst outcome would be for Western countries to argue about who gets to call Moscow while Ukraine watches.