Putin: Norway, Finland Leaders Said They Don’t Represent EU

The claim matters less for its substance than for what it signals about how Moscow is trying to route around Brussels. By framing Nordic leaders as distinct from the EU, Putin is drawing a line between bilateral channels and the bloc's collective stance — a distinction those governments have not confirmed. The open question is whether such calls translate into any real thaw in European relations or remain a rhetorical device, and whether Nordic capitals publicly clarify their position.