Putin warns Finland Nato membership would harm relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his Finnish counterpart relations between the two neighbours could be “negatively affected” if Finland follows through with plans to apply for Nato membership.

The Kremlin’s press service said in a statement that Mr Putin told Sauli Niinisto that Finland’s abandonment “of its traditional policy of military neutrality would be an error since there are no threats to Finland’s security”.