Some European countries reacted negatively to Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store’s initiative to hold a phone call with President Vladimir Putin, Politico reported.

An unnamed official said individual countries holding talks with Russia undermine Europe's united voice, while an Italian official said national initiatives risk further weakening Europe's influence and exposed the EU's inability to agree on who represents it in peace talks.

The European Commission reacted cautiously, noting the call was "exclusively in a bilateral format."