Helsinki (Times Of Ocean)- Finland’s parliament will soon decide whether to join NATO or not, the nation’s prime minister Sanna Marin said.
Finnland, which already maintains a robust military, could make a substantial contribution to the alliance’s military strength, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told a press conference in Athens with her Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The president reiterated that Russia’s long-running war in Ukraine has changed Europe’s security landscape, and that her country will continue to support Ukraine.
Public opinion in Finland, which has a long border with Russia, had a change of heart after Russia’s war on Ukraine began on Feb. 24.
Marin believes sanctions are already having a significant impact on the Russian economy, and supports even harsher measures, such as a complete ban on Russian energy imports to Europe.
Finland supports humanitarian, financial, and military assistance for Ukraine.
Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s support for sanctions, as well as his call for an investigation of alleged Russian war crimes in Mariupol and elsewhere in Ukraine.
He said Finland’s decision to join NATO would be taken by the Finnish people, and that Greece would respect that decision.
He promised to strengthen bilateral ties with Finland, especially in tourism, energy, and trade.
Russia has consistently opposed Finland joining NATO. Moscow justified its aggression against Ukraine by citing the possibility that the country might join NATO, although the process of joining had only just begun.
Pekka Haavisto, the Foreign Minister of Finland, said on April 23 that the Russian war on Ukraine has caused a drastic shift in Europe’s security environment, and it is time for his country to join NATO.
Since the war began on Feb. 24, 2,787 civilians have been killed and 3,152 injured, according to UN estimates. It is believed that the true toll is much higher.
According to the UN refugee agency, 7.7 million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, with over 5.3 million fleeing to other countries.