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The New Voice of Ukraine
Sunday November 26, 2023
Petteri Orpo (Photo:Lehtikuva/Antti Aimo-Koivisto via REUTERS)
Finland does not intend to negotiate with Russia at the state leadership level regarding the situation on the eastern border, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said in an interview with the Finnish newspaper HS on Nov. 25.
“We are ready to discuss on a diplomatic level. There has been no political discussion with Russia since Russia attacked Ukraine,” Orpo said.
The situation will not change until the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends, and Finland has no intention of promoting the emergence of such negotiations, he added.
A similar situation on the Russian-Finnish border was resolved through negotiations with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in 2016
More than 800 migrants from Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen have crossed into Finland from Russia in recent weeks. Previously, the flow of migrants there was less than one per day on average.
Finland claims that Russia is deliberately directing migrants to the border in response to the country’s decision to strengthen defense cooperation with the United States. The Kremlin denies this.
Finland “angered” the Russians earlier this year when it joined NATO, Reuters reported.
Norway may follow Finland and close the border with Russia, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Nov. 22.
Norwegian Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl expressed a similar opinion on Nov. 16, and the next day the same statement was made by Estonia.
Finland announced on Nov. 16 the closure of four border crossings located in the east along the border with Russia. The restrictions will be in effect until Feb. 18, 2024, but could be extended.
It is possible to close the entire border with Russia, if necessary, the Finnish Interior Minister said on Nov. 24.
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