A phone call between Alexander Stubb, Jonas Gahr Store and Vladimir Putin has triggered a debate among Ukraine's European allies. 

Finland and Norway say that direct talks are necessary to push for an end to the war, and that they were conducted in consultation with Kyiv.

But Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says the initiative was not coordinated with partners and risks weakening European unity.

DW's Riga bureau chief Juri Rescheto explains what Moscow hopes to gain and whether the contact could lead to further diplomacy.