Kenneth Glad
When close neighbours usually present an unbroken front to the world, any sign of friction travels fast. Maintaining that shared resolve during a crisis takes constant effort. A sharp argument over who should speak for the region, however, has spilled out into the open.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has sparked fierce controversy after openly condemning a diplomatic outreach to Moscow. Speaking to broadcaster TV 2, she voiced deep scepticism about the initiative.
“I think you should keep Europe together instead of going solo,” Frederiksen said.
She added that it was critical to avoid giving Russian President Vladimir Putin opportunities he did not have just hours before. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson quickly backed her view. He told newspaper Dagens Nyheter that it is “risky to hold conversations that risk dividing the European voice.” In Tallinn, Estonian foreign minister Margus Tsahkna posted on X that any contact must show European unity and resolve.
Domestic voices in Denmark backed the prime minister as well. Left-wing Socialist People’s Party spokesperson Karsten Hønge told TV 2 that he was “very critical and puzzled” by the outreach. Senior researcher Flemming Splidsboel from the Danish Institute for International Studies told the broadcaster that Frederiksen’s strong reaction was “appropriate” because sudden talks reveal cracks that Moscow loves to exploit.
Striking back
Pushback against Frederiksen landed just as fast from both commentators and diplomats. In Oslo, political editor Kjetil B. Alstadheim published a fiery editorial in daily newspaper Aftenposten bluntly titled “Shut up, Mette!” Alstadheim wrote that the Danish leader was far too quick on the trigger and noted that her angry outburst did not exactly help European unity either.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre firmly dismissed her criticism. He told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that the European Union had lacked a common approach for four years. Støre stressed that close allies were informed and that the move was prepared with Ukraine and the United States.
Danish member of parliament Trine Pertou Mach told TV 2 that she wondered why anyone would rush to criticise two neighbours acting in direct alignment with Kyiv. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed to Reuters that Kyiv welcomed the outreach as part of their diplomatic efforts. Finnish President Alexander Stubb told state broadcaster Yle that his team felt peace talks were slipping off track, which made direct communication necessary.
