Finnish foreign minister Pekka Haavisto affirmed that Finland and Sweden’s joining the NATO would not threaten Russia.

“We are peace-loving countries,” President Finish Sauli Niinisto said.

Finland had announced that it will join the military alliance in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the two countries said that they must apply for membership “without delay”.

On his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has supported Finland’s decision to apply for membership of NATO for its security amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. “In a telephone conversation with the President… I have assured Finland of the full support of the German government,” Scholz wrote on Twitter.

Ich begrüße die Entscheidung Finnlands, sich für einen unverzüglichen Beitritt des Landes zur @NATO auszusprechen. In einem Telefonat mit Präsident @niinisto habe ich #Finnland die volle Unterstützung der Bundesregierung zugesichert.

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) May 12, 2022

Finnish newspaper Iltalehti has reported that Moscow might cut off gas supply to Finland tomorrow.

Commenting on the Finish membership, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the actions is regrettable and “definitely” a threat to Russia “and a reason for a symmetrical response”.

Tags: Finland NATO Russia