Finland decided to seek for NATO membership in The next Few days, President Sauli Niinisto said on Saturday to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who He replied that Helsinki move To give up its established record military Neutrality will be a mistake. “
Ninistö office She said in Statement that the Finns head of The state told Putin in phone conversation how Completely safe in Finland environment king changed After February 24 in Moscow invasion on Ukraine referred to Russia’s demands on Finland abstained from seeking membership in NATO, which is one of the Western countries made up of 30 members military alliance.
“Discussion (with Putin) was unequivocally frank and was taken into custody without exaggeration. “Avoiding tensions was important,” said Niinistö, president of Finland since 2012. one of Few Western leaders who set up regular dialogue with put it in over The past Decade.
Niinisto . noted out that was already Putin said in first Meeting in 2012 that “each independent country will increase its own security.”
“That is still the case joining NATO, Finland will strengthen its security and assume its responsibilities. It’s not far from anyone,” Niinistö said.
He stressed that Finland, despite its potential future membership in NATO wants to continue dealing with Russia bilaterally in “Practical issues generated by the border neighborhood” and we hope to participate with Moscow”in in a very professional way. “
the phone call It was connected on Finland Initiative, Niinisto office She said.
The Kremlin later said: “Vladimir Putin confirmed that abandoning traditional policy of military Neutrality will be a mistake, since there are no threats to the security of Finland. Such a change in foreign country policy It may have a negative effect on Russian-Finnish relations.
Moscow call As an ‘explicit exchange of opinions”, which is usually a diplomatic euphemism for difficult conversation.
Finland shares The boundary is 1,340 kilometers (830 miles) long. with Russia, the longest by any member of the European Union.
Niinisto and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on On Thursday it jointly endorsed Finland’s offer to NATO and recommended that “the country should apply for NATO membership without delay” guarantee The security of the nation in central Russia military maneuvers in Ukraine and Europe changed The geopolitical and security landscape.
Official announcement From Niinisto and Marin that Finland intends to apply for for NATO membership is expected on Sunday, a day after a possible endorsement by the Social Democrats in Marin party.
Neighboring Sweden is set to decide on Its position on NATO on Sunday in meeting of The ruling Social Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson.
US President Joe Biden held a joint call Friday with Niinisto and Anderson where, according to a statement from the White House, “stressed his position support for NATO’s open door policy And for right of Finland and Sweden decide for themselves futureForeigner policy and security arrangements.
United State also a job with turkey on NATO membership of The White House said the two countries after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed opposition to Ankara over Helsinki and Stockholm’s welcoming attitude towards the PKK and other terrorist groups.
