After Putin vowed ‘problems,’ Russia ends cross-border deal with Finland

The foreign ministry of Russia declared on Wednesday that they were ending a deal that allowed them to cooperate with Helsinki across the border. This sudden decision came after Finland had accused Russia of contributing to a crisis with migrants that was affecting both countries.

The foreign ministry of Moscow made a declaration stating that it has ended the agreement made in 2012 with Finland regarding "the advancement of cross-border cooperation." However, they did not give any more information about it. This agreement was established to "aid in fostering amicable relationships between the citizens of these two nations and cultivate lasting cross-border interactions."

During the month of October, the Russian foreign ministry called upon Antti Helanterä, the ambassador of Finland, and notified the government of Helsinki that Russia would no longer participate in the agreement. The reason for this decision was due to Finland's confrontational actions towards Russia as well as the alleged discrimination against individuals of Russian nationality when issuing entry visas.

The relationship between the two nearby nations has become difficult since Russia forcefully entered Ukraine in February 2022, which led to Finland and Sweden filing applications for NATO membership. In April of this year, Finland was accepted as a member, whereas Sweden is currently waiting for Hungary's agreement before it can become an official part of the Alliance.

Last December, Helsinki alleged that Moscow was the cause of a migration dilemma. They claimed that Russian authorities were directing asylum-seekers to the border and permitting them entry without proper travel documents. However, Russia denied these accusations and said that Helsinki's claim was a deliberate provocation to worsen the two countries' relationship.

During that identical month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on national television that there might be difficulties with Finland. He also placed blame on NATO for enlisting Helsinki into the organization.