The Finnish government officially announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday, as Sweden's ruling party holds a meeting that could pave the way for a joint application.
"Today, the President of the Republic and the Government's Foreign Policy Committee have jointly agreed that Finland will apply for NATO membership, after consulting parliament. This is a historic day. A new era is opening", Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters on Sunday.
Finland's parliament is set to convene to debate the membership proposal on Monday.
"We hope the parliament will confirm the decision to apply for NATO membership during the coming days. It will be based on a strong mandate", Prime Minister Sanna Marin said.
An overwhelming majority of Finnish MPs back the decision, after Marin's Social Democratic Party on Saturday said it was in favour of membership.
"Hopefully we can send our applications next week together with Sweden," Marin said on Saturday.
Russia has suspended electricity supplies to Finland overnight, an Finish official for grid operator told AFP.
“It is at zero at the moment, and that started from midnight as planned,” Timo Kaukonen, manager for operational planning at Fingrid, said.
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