World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Russia denies report it demanded Finland leave NATO in Ukraine talks
Bild reported that Russia sought Finland’s withdrawal from NATO during informal talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
The talks were described as taking place on November 13, but their participants and details were not specified.
The Kremlin denied that the proposal was made or discussed, and Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said a demand to limit NATO activity near Russia would be unacceptable.
The reported proposals also included Russia keeping occupied Ukrainian territory and Ukraine giving up plans to join NATO.
Finland joined NATO in April 2023, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The dispute matters because Finland shares about 1,300 kilometers of border with Russia, the longest land border between Russia and a NATO country.
The account of the alleged demands remains unconfirmed, and no next step in the talks is stated.
Bild reported that Russia demanded Finland leave NATO during informal talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
The report said the demand was part of a broader set of proposals, but did not identify when or where the talks took place.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that the proposal had been made or discussed.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said Russian demands to limit NATO operations would serve Russian interests and were not negotiable.
Finland joined NATO in April 2023.
- Who
- Bild reported the demand; Russia denied it. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen also commented.
- What
- Russia allegedly demanded Finland leave NATO during Ukraine peace talks. The Kremlin said no such proposal was made or discussed.
- When
- Bild reported the claim on November 13; Meduza published its report on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- The report said the demand was raised at unspecified informal talks. The talks’ location was not stated.
- Why
- Bild presented the demand as part of proposed terms for ending the war in Ukraine. Russia’s reason for the alleged demand was not stated.
Russia
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen
Whether the proposal was made
Russia
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no such proposal was put forward or discussed.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen
Häkkänen described Russia’s reported demand for limits on NATO presence near Russia as serving Russian interests and said such limits were not negotiable.
Finland applied to join NATO shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Finland joined NATO.
Bild reported that Russia had demanded Finland leave NATO during informal talks on ending the war in Ukraine.
Meduza published its report, including Russia’s denial and Häkkänen’s response.
- Report outlet
- Bild
- Report date
- November 13
- Meduza publication
- November 14, 2026
- Russian denial
- Dmitry Peskov said the proposal was not put forward or discussed.
- Finland joins NATO
- April 2023
1 source
What people are saying
I’m not aware of this. No, [such a proposal] was not put forward. It certainly wasn’t discussed.
Russia wants European NATO countries to set limits on their own operations to serve Russian interests, and such things are not negotiable
Even suggesting such things is simply outrageous. Russia knows that