The Federal President is standing in the Finnish President's Palace in Helsinki and is talking about history.

The Finnish experience with neighboring Russia, the 1300-kilometer border.

It's Friday and Frank-Walter Steinmeier is visiting Finland and Sauli Niinistö.

Steinmeier talks about the "lively debate" about a possible NATO membership.

Germany has no advice to give.

Matthias Wysuwa

Political correspondent for northern Germany and Scandinavia based in Hamburg.

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Thomas Gutschker

Political correspondent for the European Union, NATO and the Benelux countries based in Brussels.

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But whatever decision Finland makes, it can count on Germany's backing, he says.

"We stand by your side." Then he quickly drives over to the Finnish parliament with Niinstö: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj speaks in a video booth about the war in his country.