OREANDA-NEWS. Finland will announce its decision to apply for NATO membership on May 12, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti writes, citing government sources. According to the publication, President Sauli Niinistö will announce on the morning of May 12 that he supports the decision to join the country's NATO. After that, the parliamentary parties will speak, which will approve Niinistö's statement.

According to the newspaper, the date was set for May 12, because by that time the various parliamentary committees should complete the discussion of the report on foreign and security policy.

Finland and Sweden are currently discussing the possibility of joining NATO. The Alliance is ready to accept them in a short time and with minimal bureaucratic procedures. As Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said earlier, if this happens, Russia will have more officially registered opponents.

The possibility of Sweden and Finland joining NATO was also commented on by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. She called "stupid and unfounded" statements by Western politicians on this topic. According to her, Stockholm and Helsinki submit to the interests of the Alliance under the auspices of the United States and ignore the interests of their peoples.