Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto. File photoHELSINKI, May 15Finland will apply for NATO membership likely on Wednesday, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö about the country's initiative to join NATO. The Russian leader noted that abandoning the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake, since there are no threats to Finland's security. A vote in the Finnish parliament on the NATO bid is expected to take place on Monday. Haavisto was asked when and how Finland would apply for the alliance. «It will be our NATO ambassador in Brussels, who will do it physically, probably on Wednesday. Then, if negotiations with NATO begin, they will be dealt with by delegations led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence,» the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet quotes the minister's response. also said that Finland is preparing for a possible Russian reaction, «traditional military threats», to its actions. Haavisto also noted that he is pleased with the passage of a similar process in Sweden. As expected, both countries will apply to NATO at the same time. wp-content/uploads/2022/05/91cfe5355da86237dbc2b07ec3043aad.jpg» />The Czech Republic supports the entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO, the Foreign Minister said
