Finland will apply to join Nato “without delay” in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, its president and prime minister said..It signals an historic shift in the country’s security policy and drew a blunt warning of retaliation from the Kremlin..Finland's president and its prime minister said their country must join NATO as soon as possible in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine..The decision will signal an historic moment in the nation's security policy..Sweden is expected to follow suit as Western allies anticipate the country will make its decision over the weekend..Russia’s incursion into Ukraine appears to be bringing about the very expansion of the Western military alliance that Russia's President Vladimir Putin hoped to prevent..Sauli Niinistö, Finland’s president, and Sanna Marin, the prime minister, made the announcement in a joint statement, adding, “We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”.The two countries are the two biggest in the European Union who are not members of NATO. Finland’s border, which is 1,300-km long, will more than double the length of the frontier between the NATO alliance and Russia..NATO guards will be a mere few hours drive from the northern outskirts of St. Petersburg..The expanded alliance would augment Finland’s security, the two leaders said, and as a member of NATO, “Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance. The country must apply for NATO membership as a matter of urgency.".Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated Russia would undoubtedly see Finland's NATO membership as a threat..“Military technical” steps would have to be taken, Moscow said, if Helsinki applied for membership..“The expansion of NATO and the approach of the alliance to our borders does not make the world and our continent more stable and secure,” Peskov said. “Everything will depend on how this process takes place, how far the military infrastructure moves towards our borders.”.Russia’s foreign ministry said Moscow would be “forced to take reciprocal steps … to address the resulting threats to its national security.”.Moscow accused NATO of seeking to create “another flank for the military threat to our country” and said Helsinki should “be aware of its responsibility and the consequences of such a move.”."This cannot fail to arouse our regret, and is a reason for corresponding symmetrical responses on our side," Peskov added..NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Finland can expect to be "warmly welcomed." He promised "smooth and swift" accession..French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full support for Finland's choice to join NATO..Finland's leaders and senior cabinet ministers will meet during the weekend to finalize the decision on the membership application submission process..The decision will be announced in Finland's parliament for approval early next week..Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats will also decide on Sunday whether to abandon their neutral position. The move will pave the way for an application to join the alliance.
