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A call between Vladimir Putin, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre lasted nearly 90 minutes, rather than the planned 30, according to people cited by the Financial Times. Donald Trump said a meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could happen “very soon,” while Zelensky said Russian officials appeared serious about meeting in Abu Dhabi. The date, location and format of any leaders’ summit remain unconfirmed.
Vladimir Putin’s call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre lasted nearly 90 minutes, rather than the planned half-hour, according to sources cited by the Financial Times, as discussion of possible Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi continued. U.S. President Donald Trump said a leaders’ meeting with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could happen “very soon,” but gave no date or location.
The call included Putin discussing the history of the Slavs, the Financial Times sources said. The Kremlin’s press service described the conversation as covering Putin’s assessment of the situation in Ukraine and what it called the conflict’s “root causes.” The Financial Times reported that the leaders did not discuss an immediate ceasefire.
Zelensky said the call left him with “a sense that the Russians are serious about meeting in Abu Dhabi.” He said the proposed discussions could cover de-escalation in the energy sector and at sea, as well as the exchange and return of prisoners. Zelensky also said participants hoped to discuss how a meeting between the leaders could be arranged.
Trump told reporters that a three-way meeting could take place “very soon” and that he expected it to achieve “a lot of progress.” He did not specify whether he was referring to a confirmed plan or a goal, and provided no details on timing, venue or agenda.
Diplomacy Moves Toward Abu Dhabi
The statements point to continued efforts to bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives into talks, but they do not establish that a summit has been scheduled or that either side has agreed to a ceasefire. The proposed Abu Dhabi discussions could address specific measures affecting energy infrastructure, maritime activity and prisoners, areas Zelensky identified as possible agenda items.
Who speaks for Europe is also a live issue. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized Stubb and Støre’s call, saying it had not been coordinated with other EU countries. Stubb replied that they spoke as national leaders, not as representatives of Europe. The dispute highlights the challenge of coordinating European diplomacy while the EU considers who should represent it in talks with Russia.
If the proposed talks include representatives from the United States, Ukraine, Russia and the European Union, they would bring those parties together in a format not seen since the full-scale invasion began, Euronews reported. The participation and format have not been confirmed by the material available.
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A Dispute Over Europe’s Role
The diplomatic contacts come as the EU considers who could represent it in discussions with Russia. Stubb has been mentioned as a possible candidate, with his relationship with Trump cited as one factor. That possibility has not settled the question of whether individual European leaders can hold contacts with Putin on their own or on behalf of the bloc.
According to Euronews, an EU delegation is also expected to take part in proposed Abu Dhabi talks, led by Björn Seibert, head of the Cabinet of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The report describes a possible gathering of U.S., Ukrainian, Russian and EU representatives; its final membership and mandate remain uncertain.
Separately, the source report said Russian forces struck Kharkiv overnight on October 28. Regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov said a 60-year-old man was killed and four people were injured, and that fires damaged an apartment building, a private home, an industrial building and outbuildings. The report did not establish a connection between that attack and the diplomatic contacts.
““There is a sense that the Russians are serious about meeting in Abu Dhabi.””
— Volodymyr Zelensky
Summit Details Remain Unsettled
No confirmed date, venue or agreed format for a Putin-Zelensky-Trump meeting has been provided. It is also unclear whether the Abu Dhabi talks will proceed, which officials will attend, or whether they would produce concrete commitments. The reported absence of discussion about an immediate ceasefire during the leaders’ call leaves open whether a ceasefire will be on the agenda in later negotiations.
The account of the call’s length and its history discussion comes from sources cited by the Financial Times; the Kremlin’s public description did not give a duration or detail the conversation in the same way. The EU’s representation and the scope of its delegation are also not settled in the supplied reporting.
Abu Dhabi Talks Await Confirmation
The next indicator will be whether the proposed Abu Dhabi discussions are formally scheduled and whether the parties confirm who will attend. Zelensky said the prospective agenda could include energy and maritime de-escalation, prisoner exchanges and a discussion of the format for a leaders’ meeting.
Trump’s remarks suggest he wants a three-way summit soon, but no arrangements have been announced. European governments and EU institutions may also need to clarify who will represent the bloc if its officials join the talks.
Key Questions
How long did Putin’s call with Stubb and Støre last?
It lasted nearly 90 minutes, rather than the planned half-hour, according to sources cited by the Financial Times.
Did the call produce an agreement for a ceasefire?
No ceasefire agreement was reported. The Financial Times said an immediate ceasefire was not discussed during the call.
Is a meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky confirmed?
No. Trump said it could happen “very soon,” but he did not announce a date, location or agreed format.
What might be discussed in Abu Dhabi?
Zelensky said possible topics include de-escalation in the energy sector and at sea, prisoner exchanges and the format of a potential leaders’ meeting.
Source: rss
