Støre, Stubb and Zelenskyj hold private talks on Russian attacks and ceasefire prospects in New York

At a side meeting in New York, Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finland's president Alexander Stubb and Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyj discussed the escalation of Russian missile and drone assaults on Ukrainian energy and grain-export facilities. The dialogue, described as a valuable confidential exchange, built on conversations that began when Zelenskyj visited Norway weeks earlier. The participants stressed the importance of continued Western aid, with Norway committing to sustain military support focused on air-defence and to provide humanitarian assistance for Ukraine's energy needs.

Stubb, speaking for the Nordic countries at the UN Security Council, urged stronger and broader assistance to achieve a fair and durable peace. Both Norway and Finland said they would keep backing initiatives that could lay the groundwork for genuine negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.