Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected in Helsinki on Friday for a one-day visit amid tensions in the Baltic region, AP reports.
Putin will meet Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö at his summer residence a week before a NATO summit which will have security in the Baltic Sea region high on the agenda.
Russia has increased its military activity in Eastern Europe, with reports of airspace violations to which NATO responded with a reinforcement of its presence.
Last week, Putin lashed out at NATO for “stepping up its aggressive rhetoric and its aggressive actions close to our borders.” “In these conditions, we are obliged to dedicate special attention to resolving tasks connected with heightening the defense capabilities of our country,” he said.
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, the U.S. commander of ground forces in Europe said NATO would currently be unable to protect the Baltic states against a Russian attack.
“It’s true — Russia could overrun the Baltic states more quickly than we would be there to defend them,” Hodges was quoted saying in German-language article by Die Zeit.