President Vladimir Putin received a joint call from the leaders of Norway and Finland on Tuesday as they urged him to end the war in Ukraine, sparking rare contact between Europe and Russia.

The aim of the call, initiated by the offices of President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, was to look at “future negotiations to help end the war”.

Store said he and Stubb “stressed the importance of de-escalation” as both leaders voiced strong support for Ukraine, speaking to President Volodymyr Zelensky straight after Putin.

Tuesday’s “frank and substantive” 90 minute phone call was conducted from Helsinki, Finland’s capital, and showed “big differences in views”, according to Store

Following the call, Putin said the duration of the conflict , which has been raging on for four years, has been prolonged by “confrontational” EU and NATO policies, and that a “just and lasting peace” would only be possible if Russia’s interests were considered.

Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on how to end the…