Anne Kauranen, Essi Lehto

HELSINKI (Reuters – Finland must immediately apply for NATO military alliance membership, the Finnish President Sauli Nisto and Prime Minister Sanna Martin said on Thursday. The major shift in policy was triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Finland is a country that shares a border of 1,300 km (810 miles), with Russia. It has had a turbulent past and now cooperates with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Until Russia invaded Ukraine, however, the Nordic countries had resisted joining to preserve friendly relations with their eastern neighbor.

Marin and Niinisto said jointly that Finland should apply immediately for NATO membership.

“We are hopeful that within the next few hours, the necessary national actions to reach this conclusion will be completed quickly.”

After Russia launched what it called a “special operations” in Ukraine, the Finnish view of NATO changed quickly.

Public support in Finland for NATO membership is at an all-time high. The latest poll from YLE shows 76% in favor and only 12% against. In contrast, support for NATO membership was just 25% during the years preceding the war in Ukraine.

Although military non-alignment was a longstanding Finnish way to avoid conflicts and has been favored by many Finns, Russia’s invading of the sovereign Ukraine has caused an increase of these Finns to see friendly relations as nothing more than a empty slogan.

Finland’s experience with Ukraine has been especially troubling. Between 1939-1944, Finland fought two wars in Russia. The latter resulted in a repellent invasion attempt and the loss of approximately 10% territory.

Finland’s swift shift to NATO could be a boon for Sweden.

Sweden’s Social Democrats will decide Sunday whether to end decades of resistance to NATO membership. A move which would almost certainly see Sweden asking for the joining of the 30-nation alliance.

Russia warned the two countries repeatedly against joining the alliance. According to Russia’s foreign ministry, March 12, 2012 was the latest time that it warned both countries against joining the alliance.

Many were surprised at the speed with which Finland applied for asylum. Most political discussion took place in secret because of Russia’s reaction.

Finland’s government conducted a security review in March. It presented a report that parliament will discuss in April.

Parallel to the internal process, Finland’s President and Prime Minister have been visiting NATO’s thirty member states in an effort to gain their support for Finland’s accession.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated previously that Finland and Sweden could join the alliance “quite soon”.