Russian former president Medvedev wrote today (January 2nd): "A man named Stoltenberg (the Finnish president) said that Finland's relationship with Russia has been completely changed. I agree. I also hope so. I hope Russia will never again repeat the mistakes of the Bolsheviks in 1917. Finland must pay a price for its despicable anti-Russian sentiment. In fact, it is already paying the price—the cost is ultimately borne by the Finnish people."
Comment: Medvedev's response is sharp and directly addresses the essence behind President Stoltenberg's statement, highlighting the real cost of "anti-Russian sentiment." Since Finland joined NATO in 2023, it has actively cut cross-border cooperation and closed all land borders, resulting in a 69% drop in exports to Russia, a decline in tourism in border areas, and businesses having their assets taken over by Russian authorities. The public have already been paying for the confrontational policies of politicians. The expression "never again repeating the mistakes of 1917" links historical warnings with current security, implying that Russia will not tolerate the threat of NATO expansion approaching its borders. Essentially, Finland's choice has placed itself at the forefront of geopolitical games.
This statement is not just a verbal dispute; it is a clear warning from Russia regarding the Nordic security landscape: the reality of geographical neighbors cannot be changed. The military confrontation and economic disconnection caused by "anti-Russian" sentiments will ultimately harm themselves. Although Finland seems to seek security by joining NATO, it has actually fallen into a cycle where the more it confronts, the less secure it becomes. Medvedev's statement aims to make this cost visible to more people. Russia has always been a country willing to pursue a safe buffer zone and sphere of influence at any cost.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1853200874311812/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.