Russia According to the researcher, Russia’s letter to Finland was not a note, but raising the issue in the Russian media showed that “it matters”

Foreign policy researcher at the institute Jyri Lavikainen thinks that Russia ‘s letter to Finland on Monday regarding European security did not in itself contain any new requirements for membership of NATO, for example. Consequently, the letter – on the basis of information made public – did not remind him of the notorious notes of the Soviet era that frightened Finland.

In addition, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovin The letter, sent on behalf of Russia, was sent to all OSCE participating States, including Russia 57.

Read more: Russia has forwarded Lavrov’s message to Finland about security guarantees – Haavisto: Letter sent to all OSCE countries

However, according to Lavikainen, it is interesting that in Russia the media separately noted that a letter had been sent to Finland demanding the OSCE countries’ comments on the security situation in Europe.

“It matters. For Russia, the issue is much more important for Finland than, for example, for a very distant southern European country, ”says Lavikainen.

“Despite the fact that those letters went to everyone, the question concerns Finland very much, especially since Finland is not a member of any alliance, but Finland would like to have the opportunity to form an alliance. That is exactly the issue. ”

Finland is a neighbor of Russia and Finland does not belong to NATO. Lavikainen points out that with regard to Finland’s possible membership in NATO, Russia has already expressed its strong opposition in previous letters to the United States and NATO.

According to Lavikainen, the letters sent to the OSCE countries are a continuation of Russia’s attempts to keep the threads in its hands in the crisis it caused when Russia started sending its troops near the Ukrainian border last year.

“Russia wants to keep this strategic initiative to itself and, as it were, keep the other side reactive without any challenge to Russia.”

According to Lavikainen, Russia’s aim is to create interests in Europe, and the country aims to do so by showing that it has concerns about its own security that others should respond to.

“Russia wants to tie Ukraine and Georgia more tightly. Addressing these security concerns is one way to cover this goal. ”

Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (green) said at a news conference on Tuesday, that the letter sent by Russia asks Finland to state its position on the OSCE principle that no country should increase its security at the expense of other countries.

According to Lavikainen, the content of the letter seems confusing.

“When Russia sends a letter worded in this way, it claims to act in accordance with the principles of the OSCE and international law. But this is not the case, because Russia is constantly threatening Ukraine with war. ”

In his press conference, Haavisto pointed out that Russia has now had the opportunity to present its views on many different occasions: directly to the United States, in discussions with NATO, in the Normandy configuration focusing on Ukraine, and now also within the OSCE.

The list can also be continued At the UN Security Council meeting on Monday, although Russia did not like its convening and public presentation.

Jyri Lavikainen thinks that Russia’s activity will continue, as “Russia will continue to keep tensions high and the initiative itself” will continue. According to him, the cessation of diplomatic activities in the West could lead to the idea that there is no need to respond to Russia’s demands and concerns in any way.

According to him, from Russia’s point of view, the situation in the situation is improved by the fact that “Russia is the only country ready to go to war. Or so, it wants to show the situation, and that’s a kind of strength. ”

Lavikainen believes that Russia has succeeded, at least to some extent, in its defiance in recent months because it has made the United States talk directly with Russia about European security.

But if we compare the achievements with Russia’s demands on the United States and NATO, the results are meager and even miserable.

The United States and NATO have not closed their doors to new members.

Russia has also demanded that no armaments or troops be added to the member states that joined NATO after 1997. According to Lavikainen, it has recently been seen how the United States and Britain have promised more troops to NATO countries near Russia.

“There are, in fact, signs that these forces will be strengthened as a result of Russia’s actions.”