Finland has firmly rejected a reported Russian demand that it withdraw from NATO as part of a proposed framework for ending the war in Ukraine, with Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen declaring that the country’s membership in the military alliance is not open to negotiation.
Häkkänen described the reported proposal as unacceptable, emphasizing that Russia has no authority to determine Finland’s foreign and security policy.
“Such matters are in no way a matter for negotiation. Russia knows that. This is absolutely outrageous to even suggest such a thing,” Häkkänen told reporters on Friday, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.
The remarks followed a report by German newspaper Bild claiming that Moscow had included Finland’s withdrawal from NATO among a series of demands discussed during negotiations in Abu Dhabi this week.
The reported Russian proposals also included allowing Moscow to retain occupied Ukrainian territories, taking control of additional areas of Ukrainian land, demilitarizing Ukrainian ports and removing NATO military bases from the Baltic states.
In exchange, Russia reportedly offered to withdraw its nuclear weapons from Belarus and refrain from deploying intermediate-range missiles there. However, it remains unclear which of the reported proposals Russian President Vladimir Putin would ultimately support following discussions among intermediaries.
Neither the precise status of the proposals nor whether they represent Moscow’s formal negotiating position has been independently established.
Finland’s rejection highlights the broader security implications of negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly concerns that Moscow could seek to reshape Europe’s security architecture beyond the territories directly involved in the conflict.
Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia and has historically maintained a policy of military non-alignment. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 fundamentally changed Helsinki’s security calculations.
The country formally joined NATO in April 2023, ending decades of military non-alignment and becoming the alliance’s 31st member at the time. Its accession significantly expanded NATO’s direct border with Russia and strengthened the alliance’s military presence in Northern Europe.
For Finland, NATO membership is widely regarded as a central component of its national security strategy, particularly given its geographical proximity to Russia and historical experience of conflict with its eastern neighbour.
The reported Russian demand has also raised questions about whether Moscow intends to use negotiations over Ukraine to pursue wider restrictions on NATO’s military posture and the security choices of European countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has separately warned against proposals for a new European security framework that could allow Russia to influence decisions affecting other countries.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelenskyy said a new security arrangement for Europe after the war, raised by American representatives, could create serious risks if it undermined the sovereignty of European nations.
“Russia certainly cannot make decisions on behalf of all the societies that are members of NATO,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s comments came after a meeting with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Dublin on Thursday. The discussions reportedly focused on diplomatic efforts surrounding the war and possible arrangements for future European security.
Although Zelenskyy’s remarks were not a direct response to the specific demands reported by Bild, they reflected Kyiv’s concerns that negotiations could extend beyond Ukraine’s territorial future and affect the broader European security order.
“Putin’s desire to change borders in Europe is a fact. I am sure this is part of his concept of revising security guarantees in Europe. This is dangerous because, in my view, it is precisely things like this that lead to wars or escalations,” Zelenskyy said.
His warning underscores Ukraine’s concern that any settlement granting Moscow influence over the security arrangements of neighbouring countries could encourage further Russian pressure on European states.
The question of NATO enlargement and the alliance’s military presence in Eastern Europe has been a longstanding point of confrontation between Moscow and Western governments. Russia has repeatedly objected to NATO’s expansion, while the alliance maintains that membership decisions belong exclusively to individual sovereign states.
Finland’s position suggests that Helsinki has no intention of allowing its alliance membership to become part of negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and Western intermediaries.
The reported proposals also place the Baltic states, Belarus and Ukraine within a broader debate over Europe’s postwar security arrangements. Any attempt to negotiate the removal of NATO forces or restrict the defence policies of member states would likely face strong opposition from alliance governments.
