BRUSSELS, October 28. /TASS/. European officials fear that the contacts between Russia and the US are much broader than Brussels had anticipated, forcing the EU to explore options for participating in future talks on Ukraine, Euronews reported, citing sources.

According to the TV channel, Russia and the US could discuss new deals, particularly agreements related to Lukoil assets and natural LNG projects in the Arctic, as well as the relaunch of the Nord Stream pipelines. With this in mind, the Europeans are seeking a way to participate in the talks, Euronews emphasized.

On October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Finnish leader Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. The conversation took place at the request of Finland and Norway. The sides exchanged opinions on the Ukrainian conflict settlement issues. The leaders welcomed the agreement to resume trilateral talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi during the first weeks of November. According to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, the substantial and detailed conversation lasted about one and a half hours. The three leaders agreed to continue engaging in direct telephone conversations. The Finnish presidential office noted that Stubb and Store "took the call as leaders of their respective countries and did not speak on the behalf of Europe as a whole."