The first attempt in a year by European leaders to resume negotiations with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine failed to shift the Kremlin’s stance on a key territorial issue. The Kremlin leader once again demanded that the entire Donbas be handed over.
During a 90-minute conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Vladimir Putin said he would not relinquish his claim to the Ukrainian region.
According to Russian presidential foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, Putin told the two European leaders that he was waiting for Volodymyr Zelensky in Moscow, where he would guarantee his safety.
However, according to the official, a meeting between Putin and Zelensky could take place only after negotiations have concluded, for the signing of the final documents.
Five years into the war, the Russian army controls only about 80% of the Donetsk region, which it has annexed, writes Antena3. In less than ten months of 2026, the Russian army has lost several areas of territory.
Stubb and Störe told Putin that a “just peace” is needed in Ukraine, according to Reuters sources.
The last European leader to attempt talks with the Russian president was Emmanuel Macron, who called the Kremlin leader in July 2025. The talks were unsuccessful.
Immediately after their conversation with Putin, the two European leaders called Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president said he was “grateful for the detailed briefing and for this engagement in support of our diplomacy and the joint peace efforts we are pursuing with all our partners.”