Finland-Russia border 'new dividing lines' across Europe: Zakharova
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accuses Finland of avoiding direct dialogue and politicizing the border crisis between the two countries as tensions mount.
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova arrives to attend Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, January 18, 2023. (AP)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accentuated that Finland has been opposed to discussing with Russia alleged threats to Helsinki's security from the Russian side of the border between the two countries. According to Zakharova, Finland has also been steering clear from direct dialogue between border services.
In December 2023, Finland sealed its border with Russia entirely, claiming that the decision comes after an increased number of undocumented migrants have attempted to enter Europe through the Russian border.
"Helsinki is stubbornly refusing to discuss with us the alleged threats to Finnish security emanating from the Russian side of the border… The key to overcoming the current unhealthy situation on the border is direct and constructive dialogue between the border services of the two countries, which the Finnish authorities are avoiding," Zakharova said.
Zakharova then stressed that Finland's position is politicized, explaining that the result is "nothing more than the erection of new dividing lines on the European continent."
"The responsibility for the decisions to keep the Russian-Finnish border closed in violation of the international commitments undertaken by Finland, including within the framework of the OSCE [the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe], to facilitate mutual travel and contacts between citizens, lies entirely with the Finnish authorities," the spokeswoman said.
US main beneficiary in war, newest NATO member first to suffer: Russia
Senior Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov expressed concerns over Finland's decision to join the US-led NATO alliance, emphasizing the potential risks to the Nordic nation's security.
Ulyanov argued that Finland, due to its geography, is at the forefront of any hypothetical conflict between NATO and Russia.
Finland, traditionally known for its policy of neutrality during the Cold War, departed from its historical stance by seeking NATO membership following the war in Ukraine last year. The Finnish government cited the need for mutual defense protection as a crucial factor in its decision to join the military alliance.
Ulyanov, who represents Moscow at various international organizations in Vienna, however, cautioned against the perceived benefits of NATO membership for Finland.
Finland officially became a NATO member in April and subsequently strengthened its ties with the United States by signing a bilateral security agreement this month.
The agreement includes provisions granting American troops access to military bases on Finnish soil, a move that Ulyanov described as a "serious challenge" for Russia.
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