Your trusted source

Finland is set to submit an application to join NATO early next week, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told Japan’s NHK television in an interview on Friday, TASS reported.

"If the parliament approves, we will do it in the middle of the next week. Sweden is to consider the issue within a similar timeframe," he said.

In his words, Finland is ready for any developments on its border with Russia, but wants the situation in the area to remain calm. He also described Russia as his country’s "important neighbor", adding that bilateral relations were strained recently over the situation around Ukraine.

According to a joint statement by Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Finland should apply for accession to NATO as soon a possible. A formal decision is expected to be made on Sunday, May 15. The parliament is to hold debates on the issue on the following day.

A discussion on Finland’s admission to NATO intensified in early April. The alliance’s most prominent members supported the move. The majority of Finnish lawmakers have also spoken in favor. The Finnish president earlier said that his country’s possible accession to NATO is not directed against third states, and Helsinki’s main goal is to reinforce its national security.