Finland ready for NATO. Moscow denies, we will not cut the gas – World

There is no plan to stop gas supplies to Finland starting today: the news circulated in the Finnish media is “another hoax”: the Kremlin announced today, according to Tass reports. The Finnish newspaper Iltalehti wrote yesterday that Moscow could cut gas supplies to Finland from today following the announced intention of the Scandinavian country to join NATO.

The US supports every request from Finland and Sweden to join NATO: White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said so.

“NATO is a defensive alliance, not an offensive one. There is no aggressive intent in any NATO expansion”: White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in response to a question about Moscow’s threat of retaliation. in the event of Finland and / or Sweden joining the Alliance.

The Finland announced that he wanted theaccession to NATO “Without hesitation”. The country “must apply for NATO membership without delay,” Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin wrote in the note. The final decision will be announced on Sunday. “During this spring an important discussion took place on the possible accession of Finland to NATO”, the statement continues, underlining that “it took some time to let Parliament and the whole of society take a position on the issue. time is needed for close international contacts with NATO and its member countries, as well as with Sweden. We wanted to give the discussion the necessary space. ” “NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security. As a NATO member, Finland would strengthen the entire defense alliance. Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope national steps are still needed. to take this decision are taken quickly within the next few days “, concludes the joint statement.

Finland’s accession to NATO will take place “smoothly” and quickly: Alliance Secretary General Jens said today Stoltenberg.

“Russia’s unpredictable behavior is a huge problem. Russia is ready to carry out operations that are high-risk and that will also bring a large number of casualties to us.” This was stated by the Finnish Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto, in a hearing in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, also lamenting the possibility for the Kremlin to “deploy forces and bring 100,000 soldiers to the borders”. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine – he added – has changed the European and Finnish security environment, yet Finland does not face an immediate military threat,” he added.

The main political leaders of Finland have been informed that the Russia could cut the supplies of gas, following the announced intention of the Scandinavian country to join NATO. This was reported by the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, underlining that earlier the hypothesis of an interruption on May 23 was raised, when the next payment by Helsinki is expected, which Moscow expects to be in rubles.

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz he expressed the federal government’s full support for Finland’s entry into NATO. In a phone call with President Sauli Niinisto, reported by spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in a note, the Bundeskanzler welcomed the declaration of the head of state and Prime Minister Sanna Marin for a quick entry into the Alliance. The discussion addressed the issue of Europe’s security in light of the attack on Ukraine, according to the statement.

Il Swedish government has called an extraordinary meeting for next Monday to take a formal decision on the NATO membership application. Immediately after the meeting, unless unforeseen circumstances, the application will be presented. The Swedish newspaper Expressen writes, citing anonymous sources.

“The unity and solidarity of NATO and the EU have never been so close – writes the president of the European Council, Charles Michel in a tweet -. Sauli Niinistö and Sanna Marin pave the way for Finland’s accession to NATO. A historic step, once taken, which will greatly contribute to European security. With Russia waging war on Ukraine, it is a powerful signal of deterrence “.

Finland’s entry into NATO would “surely” be a threat to Russia, according to the Kremlin. Russia’s response to Finland’s entry into NATO “will depend on the proximity of the Alliance’s infrastructure to the Russian borders”, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS. Moscow, however, Peskov added, “will take the necessary measures to guarantee its own security”.

Russia will take technical-military and other countermeasures if Finland joins NATO: the Russian Foreign Ministry has announced, according to the Interfax agency. By “persuading Finland” to join the Alliance, NATO “aims to create a new front of the military threat to Russia”. Helsinki should realize its responsibilities and the consequences of a possible entry into NATO, the Russian foreign ministry added, according to TASS.