Finland’s gas supplies could be turned off by furious Russia because Helsinki declared the country should join NATO ‘immediately’
According to lawmakers, Vladimir Putin could react against Finland for announcing its decision to join NATO by cutting off its gas supply as soon as today.
According to Iltalehti, Finnish MPs have been told that Russian shipments could be blocked today as a result of yesterday’s announcement.
President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced this morning that they want to join the security alliance ‘as soon as possible,’ with Sweden expected to follow suit in days, dramatically increasing tensions between Russia and the West.
The Kremlin has earlier promised to secure the country’s “complete ruin” and “the most terrible consequences,” and today claimed it would be compelled to use “military-technical and other punitive steps.”
There were already concerns that Putin will take vengeance on Helsinki by shutting down the taps on May 23, when the next gas bills from Finland to Russia are due, wreaking havoc on industry and food supplies. However, there are now suspicions that the Kremlin will intervene sooner rather than later.
‘Preparations have been made for this and it is envisaged that this can happen,’ Ville Tavio, chairman of the Basic Finnish Parliamentary Group, told reporters.
In an angry response to Finland’s announcement of its decision to join NATO, Russian state television accused the US of creating a “new iron curtain” in Europe.
The UK is “absolutely committed to NATO’s open door policy,” according to a spokesman for Number 10, and the only threatening behavior in Europe is Russia’s invasion.
The move is a stunning backfire for Putin, who invaded Ukraine in part out of fear of NATO expansion, with NATO’s presence on Russia’s borders poised to treble from 754 to 1,584 miles.
‘You caused this,’ Niinisto said when asked what he would say to Russia. ‘Look in the mirror.’
‘The main beneficiary here is America and Biden,’ Russian state television’s Olga Skabeyeva said after the statement. ‘The major goal is to build a new iron barrier stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea.’
Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, called the measure a “absolutely” a threat to Russia, warning that it would make Europe more unstable.
He claimed Finland had taken “unfriendly acts” against Russia, which he regretted and justified by imposing a symmetrical response.
‘Definitely,’ Peskov responded when asked if this posed a threat to Russia. ‘NATO expansion does not improve the stability and security of our continent.’
Sweden is set to follow Finland with its own application, which may be announced as soon as next week, according to Daily Expressen, with a parliament debate on Monday followed by a special cabinet meeting when the formal decision to apply would be made.
On Sunday, a special committee will reveal Finland’s decision on a membership application, though the country may not be legally admitted to the treaty until October.
The major policy shift, which completely rewrites Europe’s post-World War II alignment, comes just a day after Boris Johnson signed security pacts with Helsinki and Stockholm, promising that Britain would come to their rescue if they were attacked by Russia.
‘Now that the decision-making moment is approaching, we state our equal views, also for the information of parliamentary groups and parties,’ Niinisto and Marin wrote in a statement released today.
‘Being a member of NATO would improve Finland’s security. Finland’s membership in NATO would boost the whole defense alliance.’
‘Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay.‘
‘We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days.’
Finland has historically remained outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to maintain amicable relations with its eastern neighbor, despite sharing an 830-mile border and a tumultuous history with Russia.
Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb said this morning, “I have been waiting for this day for 30 years.”
‘Announcement on Finnish NATO membership imminent.’
