The key facts
- Peskov called the EU's pressure course a “destructive position” in a comment to Channel One
- The October 27 call was initiated by Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Støre
- The Ukrainian settlement and the resumption of Russia–US–Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi were discussed
Criticism of the pressure course
Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, said in a comment to Channel One that the line voiced in European capitals on further pressure on Moscow is mistaken. According to him, such attempts will not bring positive results and do not contribute to a diplomatic settlement. “This is an absolutely destructive position. It will lead to nothing good,” Life.ru quotes his words.
The alternative — direct talks
As an alternative, Peskov cited Vladimir Putin's telephone talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “If, against this background, two statesmen appear who understand the need for dialogue, then this should be supported,” the Kremlin spokesman said, adding that the reaction of a number of EU countries to this call was hysterical.
What is known about the call itself
Earlier, Life.ru reported that, apart from Finland and Norway, no other European countries had requested telephone talks with Putin: it was Stubb and Støre who initiated the call that took place on October 27. The parties discussed the Ukrainian settlement and the upcoming resumption of trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi. Thus, against the backdrop of EU criticism, the Kremlin points to two separate direct contacts with European leaders as the preferable format — while the assessment of the EU's position remains a statement by the Russian press secretary, not an independent characterization.
