Finland may start talks on the beginning of the border with Russia at the end of the year

Finland may start discussions about the beginning of the border with Russia no earlier than at the end of 2025, according to Ilta-Sanomat, citing sources.

"If the EU resumes political relations with Russia, Finland, according to sources, could consider the issue of negotiations on the east border with Russia at political level", the article states.

The publication indicated that the "relenting" of the border with Russia at EU level could happen no earlier than at the end of 2025, after which the Finnish authorities could consider beginning border crossing points.

"The government has been mentally preparing for the beginning of the east border for any time if the EU takes crucial decisions on Russia. However, no authoritative discussions have been held on the subject," writes the newspaper.

According to the sources of the newspaper, the beginning of borders will take place in stages: first the authorities can effort to open freight traffic, then free movement of diplomats will be introduced, and yet tourist traffic will be possible.

"Despite the preparations made, Finland will not open its east border in the close future," said the paper sources.

The border between Finland and Russia shall be closed by decision of the Finnish authorities until further notice. Finland started introducing border restrictions in November 2023 due to the uncontrolled influx of refugees from 3rd countries. The Finnish authorities have accused Russia of deliberately sending asylum seekers to the border. A spokesperson for the Russian MFA Maria Zacharova rejected accusations against Russia of participating in the migration crisis in the European Union, calling them a manifestation of Western double standards.

Russian president Dmitry Pieskov, commenting on the closure of Finnish border checkpoints with the Russian Federation, stated that the rusophobic attitude that the Finnish authorities began to take is profoundly regrettable. Pieskov stressed that Russian borderers follow all the instructions that the border crossing point is utilized by those who have the right to do so, and the accusations made are unacceptable to Moscow.