The October 27, 2026 call involving Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre marked the first direct contact between Vladimir Putin and European leaders since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Putin in July 2025

An ongoing armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine that was sparked with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale invasion in February 2022, resulting in widespread casualties, displacement and significant geopolitical consequences for Europe and the world.