Opening the border between Finland and Russia is not realistic at the moment, Finnish Defense Minister Antti H\u00e4kkinen told Yle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are not going to open the border. We know that Russia wants to continue directing the flow of migrants to Finland immediately,\u201d H\u00e4kkinen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Finland Pavel Kuznetsov suggested opening the border. H\u00e4kkinen noted that Russia\u2019s words and actions do not align.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must take common security seriously. Whether it\u2019s border security, cables, or real estate deals, we need to strengthen control in these areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to H\u00e4kkinen, Russia often glosses over its actions, even though it caused the breakdown in relations with its neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey attacked Chechnya, Georgia, Crimea, and then full-scale Ukraine. Russia has killed and injured hundreds of thousands and seized a significant part of its neighbor\u2019s territory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H\u00e4kkinen argued that if Russia truly wants to engage with its neighbors, it must first change its behavior. In the current situation, Russia cannot expect continued tourism and trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first step to improving relations would be for Russia to stop military operations in Ukraine and withdraw from the occupied territories. While the attack continues, it is difficult to forget what Russia has done in the past three years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview with Keskisuomalainen, H\u00e4kkinen accused Russia of hypocrisy, noting that the current dialogue between the countries may only concern border cooperation and the work of embassies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrust has been lost because Russia attacked Ukraine and issued ultimatums to all of Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also emphasized the importance of a unified EU and NATO stance on Russia, which seeks to divide Europe through dialogue with individual countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n