The Russian leadership has not wanted to make Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO intentions a big issue in the country’s power. The impression is also visible in the views of Muscovites.
23.5. 06:10 • Updated May 23rd. 09:17
– I trust the President (Vladimir Putin) that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO is not of great strategic importance but rather a political formality, Alexander says in Moscow.
The young man wears a badge decorated with a Z symbol to express support for Russia’s “special military operation”, an attack on Ukraine.
On the streets of the Russian capital, many do not want to take a stand on Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership aspirations. People rush past ‘s filming team.
It is not worth drawing far-reaching conclusions from a very small street survey, but NATO and Sweden’s NATO membership does not seem to arouse great emotion among the inhabitants of the big city.
The Russian leadership has tried to convey to the public the idea that Finland’s and Sweden’s membership of NATO will not mean much change. Rather, the media has portrayed countries as already virtually NATO allies.
The issue of security policy does not necessarily concern large crowds, and the relationship of Muscovites with Finland is not as close as in another major city, St. Petersburg.
“They respect our culture and our people”
Aleksandr says that NATO membership does not change his own attitude towards Finns and Swedes.
– They do not decide everything, and in principle the Finns and Swedes are quite warm to us. They respect our culture and our people. I have nothing against Swedes and Finns and I hope not.
In fact, the same is said by other interviewees.
Aleksandr comments on the NATO project in Finland and Sweden with a cautious tone. He stresses that he is not a political professional.
– In principle, the accession of Finland and NATO is logically justified for them. For us, it represents some kind of danger, but to what extent, I can’t say.
“How do our borders suffer from it?”
An older gentleman Mikhail says that joining NATO is the right of Finland and Sweden. Independent states have the right to make their own decisions.
– All countries have the right to decide whether or not to join. We should not interfere, Mikhail says.
– Of course, it is undesirable for us, because Finland and Sweden are next to us, our neighbors.
Mikhail thinks the countries are scared of “recent events” and are afraid of Russia. By this he is probably referring to the war in Ukraine. Is there reason to fear in Sweden and Finland?
– I think there is no need to be afraid, but the question is difficult. I can’t answer so unequivocally, Mikhail says.
– That’s probably the right solution for them. Let them decide, we should not criticize it, young man Kirill thinks.
He asks how the matter relates to the Russians in general, and does not consider the long land border between Finland and Russia to be a reason for the Russians to take care of the matter.
– How do our borders suffer? Kirill wonders.
“We must not interfere in politics”
Pensioner Svetlana Arkadjevna says government opinions should not be addressed – so in his time the school was taught.
– I do not think we should get involved in politics.
The citizen must support the government’s position. This is also the case with Sweden and Finland in the NATO issue.
– Our government has said they are against it. I support them, says Svetlana Arkadejevna. He has heard that Turkey is also outraged by Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO efforts.
Svetlana Arkadjevna thinks that Finland’s application for NATO is based on timeless reasons.
– The Finns think that in time we took Karelia from them. It’s an obsession for them.