The storm that unleashed earlier today did not abate, the statements of Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin about their country’s accession to NATO.
Moscow has vowed to Helsinki to take “military and other technical response measures”, if it joins the alliance NATO.
It also called on her to bear the consequences of taking such a step.
We will respond according to the situation
In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the Finnish position, which was issued earlier today, represents a “fundamental change in this country’s foreign policy approach.”
It also considered that the policy of military non-alignment pursued by Finland over the decades was a pillar of stability in Northern Europe, closely guaranteed Finnish security and formed a solid basis for the development of cooperation and mutually beneficial partnership relations between Helsinki and Moscow, in which “the role of the military factor was reduced to zero”.
She also stressed that Moscow will have to take military and other technical response steps in order to address the resulting risks to its national security, saying, “We will respond according to the situation.”
No bad intentions
She also confirmed that Russia had previously assured Finland that it had no ill intentions towards it, blaming NATO countries for pressure on Helsinki to persuade it to join the alliance.
In addition, she considered that NATO’s goal lies in “continuing to expand towards Russia’s borders and creating another wing to threaten the country militarily,” adding that “history will judge” the reasons for which Finland justifies “turning its territory into a front for military confrontation with Russia with the loss of its independence in decision-making.” “.
Finland (iStock)
She also pointed out that this accession would constitute a direct violation of Finland’s international obligations arising primarily from the Paris peace treaties of 1947, as well as the agreement concluded between Moscow and Helsinki in 1992 on the foundations of relations between them, which stipulates in particular that the two countries commit not to allow their territories to be used to launch military aggression against one of them. .
Sunday final decision
This strongly worded statement came after Finland announced this morning that it will announce its final decision on joining the international military alliance, which formed the spearhead against Moscow in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that began on February 24, next Sunday.
And this step, if taken by Finland and followed by Sweden later, will pave the way for the alliance, which provokes Russia’s ire for expansion in the European East.
The Kremlin considers this issue a red line for the country’s security. Many Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that such a step will not go unnoticed, and that Moscow will respond to it by insisting that the conflict in Europe will expand.