Norwegian, Danish PMs discuss disagreement over Putin call

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said Thursday he had spoken with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, about their disagreement over a joint Norwegian-Finnish call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, reported Xinhua.

"We had a good phone conversation yesterday and agreed that we have different views on that particular call," Store told Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv.

The disagreement centered on a 90-minute call on Tuesday between Store, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Putin. Frederiksen criticized the initiative, saying it had not been coordinated with Denmark or other European allies.

Store rejected the criticism, saying Norway's key partners and allies had been consulted beforehand and briefed afterward.

According to a statement from the Norwegian prime minister's office, the call with Putin took place in consultation with Ukraine and followed talks in Oslo on Oct. 20. It focused on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and promote peace and stability in Europe.

Store and Stubb took part as leaders of their respective countries, not as representatives of Europe as a whole, the office added.

Earlier on October 27, Stubb and Støre made a telephone conversation with Putin.