On May 14, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö called russian president putin to personally inform him about the intention of Finland to apply for NATO membership in the coming days.
The same day, the kremlin's website reported that putin had threatened to worsen relations with Finland during their conversation.
Niinistö told putin that Finland's decision was influenced, in particular, by russia's statements at the end of 2021 to prevent countries from joining NATO and invading Ukraine in February 2022, the press service of the President of Finland explained.
“President Niinistö said that during his first meeting with putin in 2012, he had told him that every independent nation maximizes its security. This is what is happening now.
By joining NATO, Finland is strengthening its own security and taking responsibility. Also in the future, Finland wants to correctly and professionally resolve issues arising due to the neighborhood with russia.”
Niinistö also expressed concern about the human suffering caused by russia's war in Ukraine
The kremlin, in turn, quoted putin's response: “putin stressed that abandoning the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake, as no dangers to Finland's security exist. Such a change in the country's foreign policy may have a negative impact on russian-Finnish relations, which for many years have been built in the spirit of good neighborliness and partnership, and have been mutually beneficial.”
Adviser to the President's Office Mykhailo Podolyak offers his version of “interpreting the conversation between the Presidents of Finland and russia from the diplomatic language into simple”: “russia is finally wearied the whole world, nobody cares about moscow's threats anymore. NATO's borders will reach the suburbs of St. Petersburg – this is how the conversation of President Niinistö with russian president can be interpreted from the diplomatic language into simple. So, welcome to the NEW Reality, Mr. Putin,” he wrote on his official Twitter page.
Earlier it was informed that Finland would apply to join NATO in the coming days. It could be accepted “quickly” within a year, five diplomats and officials told Reuters.
A similar statement is to be made this week by the Swedish government, according to the Associated Press.
According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, the country's parliament will discuss the situation on Monday, May 16.
After that, according to sources, the Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will call a special meeting of the government, which will take a formal decision on applying to join the alliance.