Vladimir Putin says Finland joined NATO hoping Russia would collapse, calling the move by Helsinki and Sweden a mistake that expanded Russia’s border with NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Finland’s decision to join NATO was driven by the expectation that Russia would collapse.
He noted that Moscow and Helsinki had no territorial disputes, adding that all outstanding issues had long been settled and that the Finnish authorities understood this.
According to Putin, Finland entered the Alliance because it hoped Russia would fall apart and wanted to be ready to take advantage of that scenario. He also pointed to construction along the border near the Sestra River.
The Russian leader said similar calculations had shaped many decisions. In his view, there is now a growing realization that the situation turned out to be more complicated than expected, with problems emerging that are difficult to overcome. Under such circumstances, he said, it would be more reasonable to look for ways to restore normal relations and move toward mutually acceptable agreements.
Putin described the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO as a mistake. He stressed that the move significantly expanded the border between Russia and the Alliance. According to him, Russia previously had no troops deployed in that part of the country, but now it will have to establish a separate military district there.
Finland announced its intention to join NATO in May 2022, after the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. In 2023, the country became a member of the Alliance together with Sweden, which applied to join in the same period.