Media information that Putin "gave lectures" on Slavic history is untrue, - Stere
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stere denied that Putin had lectured on Slavic history during a phone call with European leaders, and stated that the Financial Times should correct this information.
This was reported by Censor.NET with a link to TV2.
What is known?
The FT previously reported that, instead of discussing peace and ways to resolve crises, the Russian dictator allegedly devoted almost the entire conversation to a lecture on medieval Slavic history.
However, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre categorically denies this.
"That's not true. We asked the Financial Times to correct this information because it is not accurate," he said.
According to him, Putin asked to be given the opportunity to present his own view of the current situation and, in that context, spoke about events from 2014 to the present.
"So the claim that he gave a lecture on Slavic history is simply not true," Stere emphasized.
He also denied that Putin had taken up a disproportionate amount of time during the conversation.
"We had an hour and a half. The conversation took place with interpreters present, so some time was spent on translation. That's why I think the time was divided up fairly evenly.
"We spent about the same amount of time. But that was also because we were presenting our messages and asking for a response to them," the prime minister explained.
What led up to this?
- The leaders of Finland and Norway held talks with dictator Putin.
- The negotiations with Putin were held in consultation with Ukraine.
- This is Putin's first direct contact with top-level European leaders who support Kyiv since French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Putin in July of last year.
- Zelenskyy also held a telephone conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre.
- According to Stubb, the discussion was "frank and businesslike."
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is not very pleased with the phone call her Scandinavian counterparts had with Putin.
