Why is Finland refusing to discuss border tensions with Russia?
(Baonghean.vn) - Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that his government has no intention of holding political discussions with Russian leaders regarding the escalating tensions at the border. Meanwhile, Russia expressed its willingness to cooperate with Helsinki on the migration issue.
Since November 18th, Finnish authorities have closed seven out of eight border checkpoints with Russia. Russia has not ruled out the possibility that Finnish authorities may completely close the border.
In an interview with local media on November 26, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo affirmed that Helsinki has no intention of holding discussions with the Russian authorities regarding tensions at the border between the two countries.
The Finnish Prime Minister made it clear that, since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, Helsinki has had "no political discussions" with Moscow. This situation will not change until the Russian special operation is completed.
For its part, the Kremlin rejected accusations from the Finnish authorities of instigating the migration crisis at the border between the two countries. According to Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the anti-Russian stance that the leaders of the neighboring country are now beginning to adopt is extremely regrettable.
Peskov also emphasized that Moscow does not accept Finland's accusations against Russian border guards.
"In this regard, our border guards are fully complying with all official instructions from the Finnish side," the Kremlin spokesperson stated.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow is ready to cooperate with Helsinki to resolve the issue of migrants at the Russian-Finnish border.
"It is necessary to organize consultations between the Finnish and Russian border guards, put all concerns or requests from the Finnish side on the negotiating table, consider them, find a solution that is acceptable to both sides, or receive an explanation. This is the way to do it. And we are ready for such work," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.
Explaining the actions of the Finnish government, analysts suggest that the Helsinki government is exacerbating its relationship with Moscow to the maximum extent, as a way of demonstrating its membership in NATO.
Analysts explain the Finnish government's actions as an attempt to further worsen relations with Russia to justify its hasty accession to NATO.
Andrei Koshkin, an expert at the Association of Military Political Scientists and head of the Department of Political and Socio-Psychological Analysis at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, stated: “Most NATO member states have an anti-Russia stance. Therefore, Finland, already a NATO country, is now rebuilding its foreign policy, especially towards Russia. Helsinki will need to place alliance interests alongside national interests. At the same time, it must strongly oppose Russia. Finland is on the path of transforming its ideological values and domestic policies, followed by restructuring its relations with its neighbors.”
Analyst Koshkin believes that the massive migration of third-country citizens, particularly from the Middle East and North Africa, to Europe is largely due to the fault of Washington and Brussels. Therefore, Russia is not the driving force behind this wave of migration, but rather a natural transit point on the way to Finland, due to its geographical location.
Vadim Kozyulin, head of the Center for Global Studies and International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a conversation with RT, described Helsinki's stance as clearly unfriendly. The analyst argued that this is a continuation of a policy that has led to the severance of relations and confrontation with Russia.
According to Kozyulin, relations between Finland and Russia have become increasingly distant over the past few years, despite previously having a fairly stable relationship.
"The good relationship is now being broken. Of course, Finland is suffering economic and financial losses from the border closure. But this demonstrates the role of the Finnish government. Helsinki is doing everything to show 'Western unity,' and Helsinki's consistent attitude towards Moscow," argues political scientist Kozyulin.
