HELSINKI (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Finland on Friday is expected to focus on cementing ties with its neighboring Western country amid heightened tensions in the region over sanctions and the Ukraine crisis.
Putin’s trip to the small Nordic country — his first since the Ukraine crisis erupted in 2014 — comes as Russia has increased military activity in Eastern Europe, with reports of airspace violations. NATO responded with a reinforced presence in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, leading to growing debate in nonaligned Finland and Sweden on whether to join the western alliance.
“With this visit Moscow can demonstrate …read more
Source: KXAN
