U.S. could ratify Finnish NATO membership before August, Senate Republican leader says

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell answer questions from the media after a meeting at the President's official residence Mantyniemi, in Helsinki, Finland, May 16, 2022. Lehtikuva/Roni Rekomaa via REUTERS

The U.S. Congress will seek to ratify Finland's application to join the Western military alliance NATO before going on holiday in August, U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in Helsinki after meeting with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto.

"Certainly we hope to achieve it before the August recess when Congress typically goes out of session," he told reporters on Monday.