“Finland’s leaders say they will decide whether to join NATO despite warnings from Russia against joining the Western alliance, as the military standoff on Ukraine’s border has heightened tensions between Moscow, the US and Washington’s European allies.”
Here’s the thing. Russia can take Finland whenever it wants. Why they would want it, is anyone’s guess.
Didn’t work out quite so well for Russia the last time. It was the Red Army’s terrible performance against the Finns that encouraged Hitler to attack.
“Here’s the thing. Russia can take Finland whenever it wants. Why they would want it, is anyone’s guess.”
Yeaahhh.....NO.
Russia tried that in 1939 and the Finns, led by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, stopped the Russian army cold. Stalin was so infuriated he purged every competent officer who disagreed with him. Finland did give up territory to end the war but was never happy about it.
Finland did join the Germans when Hitler invaded Russia but had strict limits on where their units could be used; only against Russian troops.
When the Germans retreated back beyond the Finnish border Finland demanded their troops back to defend against the Russians.
The Russians had had enough of Finland during the 1939-40 war so they made “arrangements” and gave Finland more freedom than any other Soviet Bloc state.
The Finns made things very difficult for the Russians back in 1939 - 40. For a while anyway...
As to why they would want it... A buffer zone... natural resources?
Unless he nukes them I actually kind of doubt that. It didn't work too well for them in the Winter War and the Continuation War was also a slog. Neither the weather nor the terrain have improved since then, and the Finns would be just as ferocious in the defense of their country.
To put it bluntly, there is no way Putin can call on the manpower and industrial reserves Stalin was able to command, and the Russian people would not tolerate heavy casualties again.
Most likely Putin is making expansive claims so he can say he is making pseudo "concessions" so the usual spineless animals in the West will make real ones.