Finland Indefinitely Extends Closure of Russian Border

Finland has announced the indefinite extension of its closure of land border crossings with Russia and the addition of several ports to a list where travel from Russia is prohibited, citing concerns about instrumentalized migration. The government accuses Moscow of steering migrants to the frontier to pressure Finland and the EU over their support for Ukraine. Despite the closure, a few asylum seekers have continued to arrive from Russia, prompting plans for temporary legislation to block asylum seekers. Finland's decision to join NATO and sign a bilateral defense pact with the US has strained its relations with Russia.