Historical Overview of Finland-Russia Relations

The conflict in Ukraine has opened a not-so-old wound for Finns. In 1939, the Soviet Union denied their country’s right to exist and attacked it in the Winter War. But when did the rift begin? Finland was part of the Russian Empire for over a century before gaining independence in 1917. Following independence, Finland experienced significant tension with its large neighbor. In November 1939, the Soviet Union demanded that Finland cede some of its territory, including the Karelian Isthmus. Finland refused, and the Soviet Union launched an invasion on November 30, 1939, sparking the Winter War. After the war, Finland was forced to cede territory to the Soviet Union, and was placed under heavy influence of Moscow. However, Finland managed to maintain its independence and developed a close relationship with the Soviet Union based on mutual respect and compromise.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, despite Finland joining the EU, they began to develop a more equal partnership with Russia, with economic ties growing and cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, border control, and education.

Economic ties between the two countries have remained strong over the years. Russia is one of Finland’s largest trading partners, particularly in the energy sector. Finland is heavily dependent on Russian gas, and Russia is the largest supplier of oil to Finland. Finnish companies also have significant investments in Russia, particularly in the forestry and paper industries. However, the conflict in Ukraine has had an impact on trade between the two countries. The European Union’s sanctions against Russia have affected Finnish exports to Russia, so much so, that Finland’s exports to Russia decreased by 11 percent, while imports from Russia increased by 14 percent. So, the following question arises: is Finland nearing…the end of diplomacy and cooperation with Russia?

The Conflict in Ukraine

The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014, when protests in Kiev led to the overthrow of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was seen as pro-Russian. Russia responded by annexing Crimea, a region of Ukraine that is predominantly ethnic Russian, and supporting separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people, and has strained relations between Russia and the West. Finland has been careful not to take sides in the conflict in Ukraine. On the one hand, Finland supported the European Union’s sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine. On the other hand, Finland has been cautious not to upset Russia, its large neighbor to the east. The country has stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with Russia and avoiding further escalation of the conflict. In 2014, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with Russia, stating that “Russia is our neighbor, and we need to talk to them.” In 2015, Finland hosted talks between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany in an effort to find a solution to the conflict. The talks, known as the Minsk II agreements, called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front lines.

…But in comes NATO!

Finland has taken steps to strengthen its relationship with NATO, a move that has been viewed with suspicion by Russia. But why now?

It’s all due to the fact that Kremlin showed it is capable of attacking a neighbor that poses no threat. If Russia needs no reason to invade, the time to maintain diplomacy seems to have ended for the Finns. Plus, with trade at a standstill, there’s nothing to lose anymore.

When it comes to NATO, Finland isn’t looking for foreigners to fight its battles. Polls over the past few decades have consistently shown 8 in 10 Finns are ready to pick up a gun to defend their country if needed. They have one of Europe’s most formidable armies, equipped with 800 field guns (more than France and Germany combined), and as many battle tanks as the biggest European NATO members. In a country of 5.5 million, 900,000 people have had combat training, and Finland can quickly mobilize almost a third of them for wartime service. So why do they want to join NATO? It’s merely because Finland does not want to be left alone fighting an enemy 25 times its size and because they want to ensure Finns will not be put in the same situation as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who’s country is in dire need of weapons. Above all else, Finland wants to stop the next war from happening and NATO offers the best chance of ensuring that outcome.

The accession of Finland to NATO is less a direct threat to Russia and more…collateral damage.  Overall, the relationship between Finland and their large neighbors to the East remains complex and multifaceted. The end result will ultimately see Finland deciding if maintaining a balance between cooperation and caution is still the best policy, and if a certain question still lingers in their minds: is sharing a border with Russia better than sharing no border at all?

By Ioana Constantin