Russia has moved almost all ground forces from Finland's vicinity to Ukraine, media report
Russia has moved almost all ground forces from Finland's vicinity to Ukraine, media report
"On average, 80 percent of the equipment and soldiers have been transferred to the war in Ukraine," a high-ranking military intelligence source told Yle.
Shows how concerned they actually are about NATO
Well Finland, really, in this case.
Joining NATO really didn't change the situation in practice at all.
We've had a pretty stable if salty relationship with Russia, since, well... quite a few hundred years since.
The NATO thing has been on the table for 70+ years. I don't mind it went through, the idea of NATO is great (US just has somewhat too much influence over it for it to be truly a politically neutral defence alliance), but even when it went through, it was about 50/50.
The people who were pro-NATO used a lot of fear mongering about Russia. Even when it was rather clear Russia would not have had the resources and troops to open up a second front.
but even when it went through, it was about 50/50.
First search result:
Seems support for NATO is way more than 50/50, 76% for and only 12% against. (May 2022)
https://yle.fi/a/3-12437506Second search result:
Maybe you claim that's an outlier, but the next result was 78% for: (September 2022)
https://www.rferl.org/a/finland-nato-survey-membership/32145117.htmlUS just has somewhat too much influence over it for it to be truly a politically neutral defence alliance
Nobody ever claimed it is politically neutral, there are actually political requirements to become a member, like it's only possible for democracies.
The people who were pro-NATO used a lot of fear mongering
Maybe you are naive, and believe Russia would never dream of doing anything against Finland if Russia won over Ukraine. The Ukraine war by Putin was a moment of truth, Putin was ready to use military power against peaceful neighbors, and Finland used to be under Russia too, so Finland is very likely on the list.
But all that is besides the point, that Russia very obviously does not in reality fear NATO, Because Finland is NATO now, and that was the point of the comment:
Shows how concerned they actually are about NATO
Which is true, and Russia has been lying all the time about their need to defend themselves against NATO.
Joining NATO really didn't change the situation in practice at all.
Russia has been shouting the "only defending against NATO" line for decades, as an excuse for annex other countries and/or threatening them. A move like this shows they don't even believe it themselves.
We've had a pretty stable if salty relationship with Russia, since, well... quite a few hundred years since.
Calling the Winter War "salty" is maybe a bit too relaxed. I'm guessing the Karelians would feel somewhat more strongly about it.
Fuck the blyats.