Finland rejects reported Nato proposal as Kremlin denies demand

Defence minister Antti Häkkänen said even suggesting such a change was “completely outrageous”, according to Finnish broadcaster Yle.

“Such matters are in no way a subject for negotiation. Russia knows that,” he said, in remarks translated from Finnish.

Yle reported that German newspaper Bild had described a proposal from President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle that was raised in informal discussions in Abu Dhabi on ending the war in Ukraine. It reportedly included Finland returning to its pre-Nato status and a ban on Nato military bases in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia had demanded Finland leave Nato. He told journalists the matter had not been raised, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

Yle said it was not known whether Putin had approved the reported proposal, and that Bild’s claims had not received wider confirmation from major news outlets.

Finnish foreign minister Elina Valtonen said Finland and the alliance decide on Finnish Nato membership, while declining to comment directly on the press reports.