The Latest Breaking News from Finland

LVIV, Ukraine — Russian troops appeared to be drawing back from the outskirts of Ukraine’s second-largest city Saturday even as fighting continued to rage in other parts of the embattled nation and senior Ukrainian officials predicted a “new, long-term phase” of conflict to last through much of the summer.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to say the Nordic country plans to seek NATO membership in the near future and downplayed concerns Turkey may block Finland and its Nordic neighbor Sweden from joining the military alliance.

LVIV, Ukraine — As fighting continued to rage in Ukraine on Saturday, with Kyiv making gains in a northeast offensive and Russia mounting a push amid fierce defenses in villages of the eastern Donbas region, senior Ukrainian officials predicted a “new, long-term phase” of fighting to last through much of…

Russia's President tells his Finnish counterpart that ditching neutrality and joining NATO would be a mistake that could damage relations between their two countries.

The two countries said their presidents spoke by phone two days after Finland declared its intention to join NATO with Sweden expected to follow quickly after

Turkey has not shut the door to Sweden and Finland joining NATO but wants negotiations with the Nordic countries and a clampdown on what it sees as terrorist activities especially in Stockholm, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Saturday.

Mr Putin told his Finnish counterpart that ditching neutrality and joining Nato would be a ‘mistake’

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto on Saturday that ditching neutrality and joining NATO would be a mistake that could damage relations between their two countries, the Kremlin said.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto has informed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the militarily non-aligned Nordic country that shares a long border with Russia “will decide to apply for NATO membership in the coming days.”