The conversation was straightforward.
President of Finland Sauli Niinisto had a telephone conversation with the leader Kremlin by Vladimir Putin. The telephone conversation was initiated by Finland. Niinisto told Putin that Finland would decide in the coming days to apply for NATO membership . This was reported by the Finnish President's Office.
Niinistö told the Kremlin leader that Russia's demands not to join NATO and Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the security environment. During their first meeting in 2012, he told President Putin that every independent nation maximizes its security.
“This is what is happening now. By joining NATO, Finland will strengthen its own security, “the statement said.
It is noted that the discussion was straightforward and took place without pressure. “It was considered important to avoid tensions,” Niinisto said. He also conveyed to Putin a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to ensure the evacuation of civilians.
Putin said that Finland's abandonment of the traditional policy of military neutrality would be wrong and there are no threats to Finland's security, and a change in foreign policy could negatively affect relations with Russia.
Read also: Finnish President discusses potential with Biden The country's accession to NATO
Earlier, it was reported that resident Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey could veto Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO .
He also said that his predecessors “made mistakes” by giving the green light to Greece's accession to NATO 70 years ago.
The United States is trying to clarify Turkey's position on Sweden's and Finland's accession to NATO .
Russia has already threatened Sweden and Finland with “consequences” if it joins NATO. Moscow is reacting nervously to this prospect of Alliance enlargement. But will Russia open a “second front” in the Baltic Sea? This is stated in the article by Alina Gritsenko “Sweden on the way to NATO: what will Russia respond to?”.
