Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Finland's choice to use to affix NATO on Thursday, hours after Finnish leaders launched a joint assertion asserting the choice.

"Had a telephone dialog with President of Finland [Sauli Niinistö]. Recommended the readiness of [Finland] to use for NATO membership," Zelensky mentioned in a press release on Twitter.

"We additionally mentioned Ukraine's European integration. And [Ukraine] - [Finland] protection interplay."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures as he speaks throughout a press convention in Kyiv on March 3, 2022. The chief on Thursday praised Finland’s choice to use to affix NATO, hours after Finnish leaders launched a joint assertion asserting the choice. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Pictures

Finland's president additionally mentioned that he has spoken to the Ukrainian chief, and that Zelensky had expressed assist for the nation's steps in direction of NATO membership.

Niinistö and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin mentioned of their joint assertion that the dialogue about doable NATO membership passed off this spring. Becoming a member of NATO would "strengthen Finland's safety," they mentioned.

"As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the complete defence alliance. Finland should apply for NATO membership immediately. We hope that the nationwide steps nonetheless wanted to make this choice will likely be taken quickly inside the subsequent few days," the leaders mentioned.

Finland's neighbor Sweden is anticipated to make an analogous announcement quickly. The 2 international locations have thought of making use of for NATO membership since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February.

Finland and Sweden becoming a member of NATO after many years of navy non-alignment would mark a significant change of their protection coverage and a dramatic shift in Europe's safety panorama.

Different NATO leaders from Denmark, Estonia, and Romania have additionally expressed assist for Finland becoming a member of the alliance.

NATO's Secretary-Normal, Jens Stoltenberg, mentioned Finland could be "warmly welcomed" into the trans-Atlantic alliance. The method could be "easy and swift," he mentioned.

Finland is without doubt one of the alliance's "closest companions, a mature democracy, a member of the European Union, and an essential contributor to Euro-Atlantic safety," Stoltenberg added.

Russia, which shares an 800-mile border with the Nordic nation, responded to the broadly anticipated transfer with yet one more warning.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Russia would "analyze and take needed measures to stability the scenario and guarantee our safety," within the occasion of Finland's accession to the navy alliance.

Reuters cited Peskov as saying that Finland had joined "unfriendly steps" in opposition to Russia.

When pressed on what Russia's response could be, the spokesman mentioned: "Every little thing will rely upon how this enlargement course of performs out, the extent to which navy infrastructure strikes nearer to our borders."

The transfer is "undoubtedly" a menace to Russia, he mentioned.

Russia beforehand threatened "critical military-political repercussions" if Finland and Sweden have been to affix NATO. The Kremlin has mentioned the transfer "is not going to carry stability" to Europe.

Newsweek has contacted NATO and Russia's Ministry of Overseas Affairs for remark.

Replace: 05/12/22, 7:35 a.m. EDT: This text was up to date with further particulars, quotes, and background data.