Finland’s president and prime minister have said they are in favor of applying for Nato membership.
Since Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine in February, Finland and Sweden have been pondering whether to abandon their historic, decades-old neutrality and join the 30-member alliance.
President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in a joint statement: “As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance,” they said. “Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.”
In a press conference this morning, Mr Niinisto said the Russian president was responsible for the move, saying: “You caused this. Look in the mirror.”
Boris Johnson has offered to provide Finland with assistance — including military support — if the European country set to join Nato comes under attack.
Elsewhere, around 2,500 Ukrainian troops, 700 of whom are wounded, are believed to still be holed up in the Azovstal steel plant, much of which has been bombarded into rubble.
