Amid the crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Finnish president and prime minister spoke in favor of accession. “without delay” to NATO and indicated that the Nordic country’s decision would be announced to the organization next Sunday.

“To be a member of NATO will strengthen Finland’s security. As a member of NATO, Finland will also strengthen the Alliance as a whole. Finland should be a candidate for membership without delay, ”President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement.

On Sunday, the two leaders of that country’s political power planned to give a press conference on “decisions about Finland’s security policy.”

“We hope that the internal stages for this decision will be done quickly in the coming days,” Niinisto and Marin said.

The position taken by the two leaders marks the trend that the country will follow, sharing the border of 1,300 kilometers with Russia and had a painful past with his powerful fellow.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, has become Finnish public opinion in favor of joining the Alliance. The same thing is happening in Sweden.

So far, 76% of 5.5 million Finns are in favor of joining NATO, according to a poll published on Monday. Before the war in Ukraine this percentage was around 25%.

In Parliament, the majority of also in favor of 200 deputies. The formal decision on accession must be made by a security and foreign policy Council that brings together the head of state, the prime minister and several ministers.

“Joining NATO is not a decision against anyone,” the Finnish president said Wednesday night, responding to Russia’s warnings in the matter.

With information from the AFP

GRB