Finland and Sweden to apply to NATO next week, media write

Flag of Finland. File photoHELSINKI, May 10.Finland and Sweden are likely to apply to NATO at the same time early next week, Helsingin Sanomat newspaper reported, citing sources. «Finland and Sweden plan to apply to NATO simultaneously early next week. Ideally, applications can be delivered to headquarters at the same time, «the newspaper writes. Earlier it was reported that Finnish President Sauli Niinistö will publish his opinion on the country's possible NATO membership on May 12, as will Prime Minister Sanna Marin. According to the office of the Finnish leader on Tuesday, during his visit to Sweden on May 17-18, he will hold talks with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, the topic of which will be decisions in the field of security policy in Finland and Sweden. As the press expects, the leaders of the two countries will announce a joint decision to join the North Atlantic Alliance.