According to the Russian leader, Finland's accession to NATO could have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations, which for many years were built on good neighborliness and partner cooperation
Vladimir Putin countries in NATO would be a mistake, since there are no threats to the security of Helsinki, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a telephone conversation with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö. This was reported on the Kremlin website.
“Such a change in the country's foreign policy may have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations, which have been built in the spirit of good neighborliness for many years,” — The report says.
Ninisto told Putin that Finland would soon decide whether to apply to join NATO. The Office of the Finnish President explained this decision by the desire to strengthen the country's security.
During the telephone conversation, Putin and Niinistö also discussed the situation in Ukraine. The Russian President assessed the negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, “virtually suspended by Kyiv”.
Ninistö and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on May 12 announced the need to immediately apply to NATO . The country's Foreign Ministry explained this by saying that “the hostilities launched by Russia created a danger to the stability of all of Europe.” Sweden can also apply as early as May 16, Expressen wrote.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the United States would support Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, promised to promptly receive both countries in case of a request from them.
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However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he did not consider the possibility of countries joining the alliance as positive. According to him, the Scandinavian countries are “a guest house for terrorist organizations.” He recalled that members of the PKK, banned in the country, live in Sweden and are even represented in parliament.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic also considered the applications of Sweden and Finland to join NATO a “dangerous adventure”. In his opinion, these countries cannot join the bloc until the law on elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina is changed in the interests of the Bosnian Croats.
The Kremlin sees Helsinki's desire to become a NATO member as a threat. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow's actions would depend on how the “expansion process” would be expressed; and how the military infrastructure of the alliance will move.
The day before, Putin discussed at a meeting with the country's Security Council the possible threats from the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO.
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