There is “no panic” in Helsinki over any “nasty” reaction to his NATO bid, top officials say
Helsinki will strengthen NATO and bring a lot more “Added value” In the US-led military bloc, Finnish European Affairs Minister Titi Tupurinen made the claim in an interview with Sky News on Saturday.
Finland pressures for NATO membership due to Ukraine crisis “About our own resistance” And freedom “National Movement Strategy” Dr. Tupurainen. He acknowledged that it was known “The Kremlin has not been in favor of NATO expansion for years.” But he emphasized that the move was not aimed at fueling the conflict with Moscow.
“We are ready for all sorts of bad intentions and bad moves against us. But there is absolutely nothing to panic about. We are not afraid. “ Dr. Tupurainen.
“We have a very strong force. We have just decided to buy 60 F-35 fighters, and we are well equipped, and we will be an asset to the alliance. He added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a phone call on Saturday to his Finnish counterpart, Sullivan Ninisto, in which Ninisto told Putin that his country was ready to decide whether to join the Western military bloc in a few days.
Putin has warned that Helsinki’s move is a step in the right direction “Traditional Principles of Military Neutrality” There will be one “Wrong,” The emphasis was on that “There is no threat to Finland’s security.” Step “May have negative effects” On “Mutually Beneficial” Relations between the two countries, he said.
Finland’s neighbor Sweden is also considering NATO membership, and could submit its application early Monday, according to local media reports.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Glushko has insisted that Moscow should respond to the two Nordic countries’ move to join NATO, although it is too early to discuss possible nuclear transfers or any other move closer to the two countries.
Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, following Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the first Minsk agreement signed in 2014 and the final recognition of Moscow’s Donetsk and Lugansk’s Donbas republics. The German- and French-brokerage protocols were designed to give special status to isolated territories within the Ukrainian state. Mariupol claims the isolated Donetsk Republic as an integral part of its territory.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a neutral state that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kyiv has insisted that the Russian invasion was completely unpopular and has denied claims that it is planning to forcibly retake the two republics.
