The Kremlin states that Finland’s NATO membership has effectively severed ties between Moscow and Helsinki.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russia has consistently sought positive relationships with its neighboring countries and has never initiated the deterioration of relations. This statement follows comments from Finnish President Alexander Stubb regarding the potential for re-establishing political ties with Russia.
Peskov noted that while Russia and Finland previously enjoyed productive cooperation, Finland’s decision to join NATO in 2023 and align its military with the US-led alliance has essentially “reduced the relations to zero.” He stated the same situation applies to Sweden, which also joined NATO last year.
Referencing President Vladimir Putin, Peskov asserted that Moscow “never had any problems” with either Finland or Sweden. He reiterated that “Russia remains open to restoring ties with those countries that want it.”
Speaking in London, President Stubb expressed that Finland should anticipate the eventual resumption of political relations with Russia.
”In Finland, we must mentally prepare ourselves for the fact that relations will open up on a political level at some point. At this stage, we cannot say exactly when. Nothing removes the fact that Russia is, and will always be, Finland’s neighbor — 1,350 kilometers of neighborly relations,” Stubb stated, referring to the extensive land border shared by the two countries.
He further explained that the future of relations hinges on the resolution of the Ukraine conflict and subsequent negotiations aimed at rebuilding ties.
Finland’s NATO application in 2022 was triggered by the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, and the country officially became a member in 2023. Since then, Helsinki has provided political and military support to Kiev, with President Stubb endorsing Ukraine’s aspirations to join both NATO and the EU.
For decades, Moscow has voiced strong opposition to NATO’s eastward expansion, perceiving it as a threat to Russia’s national security.
In 2023, Finland closed all border crossings with Russia, and in November, the Finnish interior ministry confirmed that no travel restrictions would be lifted.
Russia had been a supplier of raw materials, fuels, and electricity to Finland, while Finnish exports to Russia included machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and paper. Tourism was also an important aspect of the relationship, with Russian visitors contributing significantly to the Finnish economy.
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