Finland’s President Alexander Stubb has stated that EU-Russia relations can only be partially restored once there is a “lasting” peace in Ukraine. He emphasized that any future cooperation would be fundamentally different from the past, with a focus on practical and interest-based relations.
Stubb, who previously expressed a desire for pragmatic ties with Russia after the Ukraine conflict, reiterated this position at the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference on the Aland Islands. He noted that relations with Moscow remain “frozen,” while Baltic Sea nations have increased their cooperation, particularly following Finland and Sweden’s recent accession to NATO. Stubb added, “We cannot turn back the tide of history,” highlighting the irreversible nature of current geopolitical dynamics.
Since 2022, Finland has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow, aligning with EU policy. These measures include tightened entry rules for Russian citizens and the closure of border checkpoints, which have impacted Finnish businesses, particularly in trade, retail, and tourism that previously relied on cross-border flows. The closure of southeastern border crossings, except for the Vainikkala rail station used for freight traffic, has further exacerbated economic challenges in these sectors.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Finland’s NATO accession by stating that Russia has never been the first to damage relations with neighboring countries and still seeks good ties. However, he noted that Finland’s decision to join NATO has “reduced relations to zero,” a sentiment echoed regarding Sweden’s recent NATO membership. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to a significant shift in Finland’s foreign policy, with a focus on balancing security concerns with the potential for future diplomatic engagement with Russia.