Ending Finland’s military neutrality would be a “mistake” according to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin said this Saturday during a telephone conversation with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö.
“Vladimir Putin emphasized that it would be a mistake to end the traditional policy of military neutrality, since there is no threat to the security of Finland,” the message says.
The announcement of Finland’s candidacy for membership in NATO, regarded very poorly by Moscow, is expected on Sunday.
“Such a change in the country’s political orientation could negatively affect Russian-Finnish relations, which have been developing for years in the spirit of good neighborliness and cooperation between partners, being mutually beneficial,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
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The two leaders also discussed The situation in Ukraine, which was occupied by Russia on February 24. “The conversation was simple and went smoothly. The issue of avoiding tension was considered urgent,” the Finnish head of state said in a statement.
Putin briefed his Finnish counterpart on “the state of the Russian-Ukrainian talks, practically suspended by Kyiv, which shows no interest in a constructive and serious dialogue,” the same source said.
On Thursday, Finland, which has a long border with Russia, announced its desire to join NATO, and on Sunday must apply for membership, which will be announced at a press conference by President Sauli Niinistö and First Minister Sanna Marin.
As soon as Helsinki announced its plans to join NATO, Moscow warned that it would take “military-technical” measures, as this decision threatened the country’s security, opening up a new flank of the Atlantic Alliance in the north of the European continent.
Finland’s accession to NATO will double the border of the Russian Federation with the North Atlantic Alliance, since Russia has a common border with Finland that is 1,300 kilometers long. Russia now shares borders with the following members of the western bloc: Poland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, in addition to a 49-kilometer maritime border with the United States.
Sweden and Finland may abandon the neutral status they have had since World War II by joining NATO, a situation triggered by Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
Overnight, Russia cut off electricity supplies to Finland, an exporter said on Friday.
