HELSINKI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his Finnish counterpart Saturday that relations between the two neighbors could be “negatively affected” if Finland follows through with plans to apply for NATO membership.
The Kremlin’s press service said in a statement that Putin told Sauli Niinisto that Finland’s abandonment “of its traditional policy of military neutrality would be an error since there are no threats to Finland’s security.”
“Such a change in the country’s foreign policy could negatively affect Russian-Finnish relations, which had been built in the spirit of good neighborliness and partnership for many years, and were mutually beneficial,” the statement added.
The response came after Niinisto told Putin in a phone conversation that the militarily non-aligned Nordic country, which has a complex history with its huge eastern neighbor, “will decide to apply for NATO membership in the coming days.”
Russia CUTS electricity to Finland: Moscow-run state energy company says it will stop supplying Helsinki tomorrow over 'payment issues' amid tensions over NATO
RAO Nordic has said it will suspend its electricity import to Finland from May 14
The supplier firm is a subsidiary of Russian state energy holding Inter RAO
This is due to RAO Nordic not being able to pay for imported electricity, it said
Blamed suspension on not having received payments for electricity sold in May
Finland was preparing for Russia to cut off electricity supplies early today due to its failure to pay the provider.
Russian state-owned power firm Inter RAO will stop exports because it has not been paid for energy sold via the pan-European exchange Nord Pool since May 6. No reason was given for the non-payment.
It comes as Finland prepares for Moscow to cut gas supplies in retaliation for the country making moves to join Nato.
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