Finnish President Sauli Niinistö stressed that much had changed since Russia attacked Ukraine. Thus, the country will apply for NATO membership.

He announced this decision live on air, Yle reports.

Sauli Niinistö stressed that the country’s application for the Alliance membership is not directed against anyone.

“It is a historic day. A new era is opening. It is good to keep in mind that security isn’t a zero-sum game. A protected Finland is being born as part of a stable, strong, and responsible Nordic region,” Niinistö said.

Sweden is also expected to make a similar move.

It is already public knowledge that Sweden’s ruling party, which has insisted on neutrality, is ready to take a positive decision on applying to join the Alliance.

Thus, Scandinavian countries will no longer have a neutral status.

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he is not looking positively at Finland and Sweden joining NATO, accusing both counties of housing “terrorist organizations.”

By this, the President of Turkey meant the representatives of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, who found refuge in the Scandinavian countries.

However, NATO is confident that it will be able to “find the conditions for reaching a consensus”, European Pravda reports, citing Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary-General.