North Macedonia supports the NATO's open door policy and the EU perspective of the Western Balkans should be considered as a strategic security policy, FM Bujar Osmani said Sunday who attended the informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which took place in Berlin on May 14-15.

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Finland's President Sauli Niinisto confirmed on Sunday that his country would apply for membership of the NATO military alliance, in a historic policy shift prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow, which shares a 1,300 km (800 mile) border with Finland, has said it would be a mistake for Helsinki to join the 30-strong transatlantic alliance and that it would harm bilateral ties.

Sweden is also expected to follow suit as public support for membership has grown amid security concerns.

Sunday's announcement comes after Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday they both favoured NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership, giving a green light for the country to apply.

"Today, we, the president and the government's foreign policy committee, have together decided that Finland ... will apply for NATO membership," Niinisto told reporters in the presidential palace in Helsinki.

Niinisto called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday to tell him of Finland's plans to join the alliance. Putin said such a move would hurt Russian-Finnish relations.

"I, or Finland, are not known to sneak around and quietly disappear behind a corner. It is better to say it straight what already has been said, also to the concerned party and that is what I wanted to do," he said about his call on Sunday.

The Finnish president expressed readiness to hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan after Ankara raised objections to the Nordic countries joining NATO.

As a NATO member, Turkey could veto their applications.

Niinisto said he was "a bit confused" about what he said was a shift in Turkey's stance. "What we need now is a very clear answer, I am prepared to have a new discussion with President Erdogan about the problems he has raised."

NATO Foreign Ministers met in Berlin on Sunday (15 May 2022) to discuss the possible membership application of Finland and Sweden as well as to reaffirm NATO’s support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s brutal invasion.

Addressing media via video link alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Mr Stoltenberg said that Sweden and Finland are NATO’s closest partners and if they decide to apply for membership, it would be “historic”. “Their membership in NATO would increase our shared security, demonstrate that NATO’s door is open and that aggression does not pay,” Mr Stoltenberg said, reiterating that all sovereign nations have the right to choose their own path.

Wrapping up the two-day meeting of Ministers, Mr Stoltenberg said Allies also discussed support for Ukraine, further strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence as well as the longer-term implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine. After Russian forces failed to take Kyiv, they are pulling back from Kharkiv and their Donbass offensive has stalled, Mr Stoltenberg said. “Russia is not achieving its strategic objectives”, he said. “President Putin wants Ukraine defeated, NATO down and Europe and North America divided. But Ukraine stands, NATO is stronger than ever. Europe and North America are solidly united. Ukraine can win this war”, the Secretary General said, adding that Allies must continue to hike up their military aid for Ukraine.

Mr Stoltenberg said that Ministers also discussed the upcoming NATO Madrid Summit, which is expected to take decisions on reinforcing the Alliance’s posture, strengthening support for global partners and adopting the Alliance’s next Strategic Concept, the blueprint for NATO’s future adaptation to a more dangerous and competitive world.

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