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Putin warns Finland joining Nato would be a 'mistake'
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IANS | 15 May, 2022
Russian
President Vladimir Putin has warned his Finnish counterpart that
joining Nato and abandoning Finland's neutral status would be a
"mistake", the media reported.
He told Sauli Niinisto there was no threat to Finland's security.
The
exchange came during a phone call made by the Finnish president, ahead
of a formal request which Finland is expected to announce very soon.
Sweden has also indicated its intention to join the Western alliance, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the BBC reported.
Finland
shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border with Russia. Until now, it has
stayed out of Nato to avoid antagonising its eastern neighbour.
Putin
did not make a specific threat of retaliation over Finland's move, but
the Russian foreign ministry has indicated there will be retaliation.
Russia's decision to suspended electricity supplies to Finland is being seen as an early sign, however.
In its statement, Russian energy supplier RAO Nordic mentioned problems with payments.
Finland national grid executive Reima Paivinen told the BBC the Russian suspension had not caused any problems.
He
said Russian imports accounted for around 10 per cent of national
supply, adding that they could be replaced from alternative sources.
Following
the phone call between Niinisto and Putin on Saturday, the Kremlin said
the Russian leader had stressed the "end of the traditional policy of
military neutrality would be a mistake since there is no threat to
Finland's security".
It added: "Such a change in the country's
political orientation can have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish
relations developed over years in a spirit of good neighbourliness and
co-operation between partners."
Niinisto said he had told Putin
how recent moves by Russia, along with the invasion of Ukraine, "have
altered the security environment of Finland".
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Customs Exchange Rates |
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Import |
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