Finland

Finland and Sweden are proceeding "hand-in-hand" towards NATO membership but that the decision to ratify the applications for the two Nordic countries lies ...

Hungary's parliament will start debating the ratification of Finland and Sweden's NATO membership next Wednesday, the agenda of next week's parliamentary ...

Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO allies yet to ratify their membership. Hungary has suggested it will begin the process this spring, but Turkey ...

But if Erdoğan remains in power, it is unlikely that he would be in a rush to ratify Sweden’s membership even after the elections. Helmi Pillai is a Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow at the Centre for European Reform. As long as Russian troops are tied up in Ukraine, there is no immediate threat to Finland, but aggression remains a possibility. Sweden, too, would be more secure with all of its neighbours in the alliance. If Turkey were willing to ratify Finland’s membership, there would be little reason for Finland to decline the offer. Geopolitical considerations are also a factor.

President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson and Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store, meet for a security summit between ...

"We proceed hand in hand in terms of the things that are in our own hands," Niinisto told a joint news conference with the Swedish and Norwegian prime ministers, but added: NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN. SWEDEN OUT.

Hungarian lawmakers will vote on the NATO bids by Finland and Sweden in early March, according to the parliamentary agenda published on February 22.

She described the package as a fresh attempt "to intimidate" her and her staff. Protasov, who is currently studying at a university in Canada, told RFE/RL after the court in Kirov handed down his sentence on February 22 that he does not plan to return to Russia in the near future. Biden made the comment to reporters upon arriving at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw for a summit of countries who are part of the Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration has set up a consortium of companies, including some in Russia, Iran, and Pakistan, to create an investment plan focusing on power, mining, and infrastructure, the acting commerce minister, Nooruddin Azizi, said on February 22. President Joe Biden said on February 22 that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, made a "big mistake" by announcing a day earlier that Russia was suspending participation in the New Start nuclear accord. Prigozhin added that he was required to "apologize and obey" in order to secure ammunition for his troops. "We proceed hand in hand in terms of the things that are in our own hands," Niinisto said, but added: "Ratification is not in our hands." The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has suspended with immediate effect the Russian Union of Journalists over its action since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its role in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories. "All allies agreed that they would support each other in the event of a threat," Marcin Przydacz, an adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda told reporters. It said Blinken would press "the imperative to sustain and expand the Black Sea Grain Initiative as a vital means of addressing the global food security crisis." President Joe Biden met NATO and European leaders in Warsaw on February 22, with the allies vowing in a statement afterward to further "reinforce our deterrence and defense posture across the entire Eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea." president said at a meeting in Warsaw on February 22 with attendees from the countries of the Bucharest Nine grouping, comprising Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Finnish president says his country faces difficult decision if Turkey says yes to Helsinki but no to Stockholm.

After approving extra aid for Turkish earthquake relief, Swedish leader Ulf Kristersson has said the first conciliatory signals from Ankara make it essential to “get back to these talks as soon as possible”. Despite growing Finnish impatience, Swedes remain optimistic that all will work out in the end. In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would oppose the Swedish application as long as Stockholm did not impose a blasphemy ban. “I have said that I will sign immediately. For nearly four months, and with no western assistance, Finland face down an invading Stalinist Red Army. “Our hands are in a way tied.

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's parliament will start debating the ratification of Finland and Sweden's NATO membership next Wednesday, the agenda of next ...

Orban, re-elected in 2022 for a fourth consecutive term, reiterated on Saturday that being a NATO member was "vital" for Hungary, but said his government would not send arms to Ukraine or sever its economic relations with Moscow. Turkey recently indicated it would approve only Finland for NATO membership, while Hungary says it has been delayed by a flurry of legislation required to unlock European Union funds. During a trip to Warsaw on Wednesday, U.S.

In a first, Finland's defense ministry has blocked an attempt by Russian citizens to buy property in the Nordic state on national security grounds.

The old people’s home appeared to have around 100 bedrooms as well as extensive parking and other surrounding land. Three Russian billionaires bought a leading Finnish ice hockey team and entered it in the Russian league. In the nearby town of Kankaanpää, locals were bemused by the Russians’ attempt to buy the old people’s home. The only other application rejection was because of an unpaid processing fee. In May last year, the joint Finnish and NATO training exercise Arrow 22 — testing the readiness of armored brigades — was run out of the garrison. On a recent weekday, green military transport vehicles could be seen entering and exiting the Niinisalo base.

Finland has banned Russian citizens from buying a property that once served as a retirement home for national security reasons.

The events in Kankanpe show that suspicions of Russian activity have grown in Russia’s neighboring countries. Three Russian billionaires also bought a Finnish hockey team, while a Finnish energy company planned to jointly build a nuclear power plant with Russia’s Rosatomenergo. In October 2022, three Russian citizens came to Imatra and filled out the documents needed to buy a former old people’s home in Kankaanpää, on the southwestern side of Finland. All three provided the same email address and residence address in a residential area on the outskirts of St. The former nursing home offers an unobstructed view of several roads leading into the garrison. Juhani Tuori, a specialty real estate agent, said he heard about the proposed deal and thought it was strange.

Finland will send three Leopard 2 tanks suitable for mine clearing to Ukraine and provide training for their use, the Finnish defence ministry said on ...

Helsinki will also provide training related to the tanks use and maintenance, defense ministry announces. Defence Minister Pistorius Visits Leopard Tank Unit.

In a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sánchez said: “You are not alone in this war. Zelenskyy thanked Spain for the military aid, saying that tanks will help to protect Ukrainian cities and the collaboration will help to “liberate our homeland as soon as possible.” [announced](https://elpais.com/internacional/2023-02-23/guerra-ucrania-rusia-ultimas-noticias-en-directo.html) he would send 10 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as he visited Kyiv on Thursday for the second time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Finland's defense ministry said in a statement that the tanks are equipped for de-mining, and that the aid package includes training for their use and ...

The British defense ministry said the commander of the Russia forces group likely responsible for the operation is “likely under intense pressure to improve results following harsh criticism from the Russian nationalist community after previous setbacks.” On the battlefield, Britain’s defense ministry said Thursday there is a realistic possibility that Russian forces are preparing to launch a new offensive in the area of Vuhledar, in Donetsk province, “despite costly failed attacks in early February and late 2022.” The German-made tanks are part of a wave of tanks being sent to Ukraine after Ukrainian officials requested them in order to better match up with Russian forces.

Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia, has been hesitant to commit to sending battle tanks to Ukraine. The announcement follows ...

[authorize the delivery of German-made Leopard tanks](https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/01/25/germany-greenlight-leopard-tanks-ukraine/) to Ukraine. These are specifically for mine clearance,” Savola told reporters. “We will send more defence materiel and participate in the Leopard cooperation together with our partners,” Minister of Defence Mikko Savola said in a statement.

ANKARA. Finland on Thursday announced another defense support package for Ukraine that also includes Leopard 2 battle tanks. The Finnish Defense Ministry in ...

[Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. "We will send more defense material and participate in the Leopard cooperation together with our partners," he said. The Finnish Defense Ministry in a statement said the 13th package of defense material to Kyiv is worth €160 million ($169.5 million).

The Government Council of Finland on Thursday, on the proposal of the president, will decide whether to send German-made Leopard battle tanks as military ...

"Previously, it was assumed that Finland would participate in the project either by participating in the maintenance of equipment, or by providing several pieces of equipment … Defense Minister Mikko Savola announced at the end of January that Finland would take part in the Leopard project. As noted in the message, the issue will be considered by the government as a proposal of the Ministry of Defense of Finland.

Mikko Savola, head of Finland's Defense Ministry, told a news conference that the tanks are designed for demining the terrain, with a special device attached to ...

In total, Finland has provided military support to Ukraine worth 750 million euros. Finland's support for Ukraine will not waver, he said. The Finnish government decided at a meeting on Thursday to send three Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine for demining, local media reported.

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store met on Wednesday in Harpsund, about 120 ...

The leaders of Sweden, Finland and Norway vowed to strengthen defense cooperation on Wednesday in the face of common security challenges. Finland's President Sauli Niinisto speaks at a press conference with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (not in the picture) in Harpsund, Sweden, on Feb. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store speaks at a press conference with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto (not in the picture) in Harpsund, Sweden, on Feb. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks at a press conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (not in the picture) in Harpsund, Sweden, on Feb. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (C) speaks at a press conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto (R) and Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Harpsund, Sweden, on Feb. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 in the wake of the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The Communist Party of Finland (SKP) announced its 64 candidates and released its manifesto for the parliamentary elections in the country scheduled for ...

In its election [manifesto](https://skp.fi/asiakirjat/skpn-vaalimanifesti-eduskuntavaaleissa-2023), the SKP called for a fundamental change in the direction of policy to deal with the financial crisis in public services, the energy and environmental crises, war, and democratic deficit. We are not forced to put up with the constant state of emergency and increasing inequality.” The current government in power in Finland is a coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Center Party, the Green League, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People Party, and is headed by Sanna Marin.

Mate Kocsis, the head of the nationalist Fidesz party's parliamentary caucus, said during a news briefing that a “serious debate” had emerged within the caucus ...

Hungary is sending a delegation to Sweden and Finland to resolve “political disputes” that are causing doubts among Hungarian lawmakers about whether to ...

Hungary’s parliament was expected to vote on letting Finland and Sweden join NATO late last year. A parliamentary delegation will travel to Sweden and Finland seeking to clarify their positions, Kocsis said. The northern European neighbors dropped their long-standing military neutrality and sought NATO membership in May in response to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Finance and Treasury Zoran Tegelti today received the non-resident ...

Türkiye postponed a meeting with Sweden and Finland on their NATO bids following the burning of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm.

Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Türkiye and Hungary have yet to give their approvals. The US's no.1 priority is to stop the peaceful rise of China.— Fiona Edwards - #NoToNATO (@Fio_edwards)