VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russia’s president, rarely visits the European Union these days. When he does, it is unclear whether he wishes to mend fences or issue threats. During a visit on July 1st to Finland, which has a 1,340km (883-mile) border with Russia, Mr Putin did both: he made reassurance sound like a threat. Even as NATO was running military drills in the Baltics and preparing for its summit in Warsaw on July 8th, Mr Putin told his Finnish counterpart, Sauli Niinisto, that he considered Finland a “priority” partner for Russia, spoke of “friendship”—and advised him to keep out of NATO …read more
Source: The Economist
