2023-09-15 19:02:02
COPENHAGEN (AP) — Finland on Friday joined three Baltic countries in banning vehicles with Russian license plates, a move consistent with a recent interpretation of European Union sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
The chancellor of the Nordic country, a member of the EU, Elina Valtonen, said that private cars will not be able to enter the country starting Friday at midnight, Finnish radio station YLE reported.
Days ago, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania approved the same measure. Estonia noted that the decision is due to the “additional interpretation of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation published by the European Commission” on September 8.
As for the enclave of Kaliningrad, which is surrounded by Lithuania, Russian citizens will be able to continue transiting through the Baltic State by train.
The EU decision means that motor vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are not allowed to enter the territory of the 27-nation bloc. The three Baltic Sea states are among the most vocal European critics of Russia and its president Vladimir Putin.
YLE detailed that cars registered in Russia with fewer than 10 passengers will no longer be able to enter Finland from Russia, although there will likely be some exceptions.
In April, Finland joined NATO, doubling Russia’s border with the world’s largest military alliance. Finland has a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border strip with its neighbor to the east.
The three Baltic States are also members of NATO.
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