Russia expels two Finnish diplomats

Russia is expelling two Finnish diplomats in response to the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Helsinki at the beginning of April, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced on Tuesday.

These expulsions were carried out "as part of an anti-Russian sanctions campaign by the EU."

Moscow also criticized Finnish arms deliveries to Ukraine and Finland's "confrontational course towards Russia."

In view of Russia's war on Ukraine, Finland is ending a decades-long tradition of non-alignment and plans to join NATO. With an overwhelming majority, the Finnish parliament on Tuesday approved an application for membership in the Western military alliance.

Earlier, Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde had already signed her country's application.