If the Russian leadership, if Vladimir Putin, were still amenable to rational arguments, it would give Moscow a lot to think about the fact that both Finland and Sweden appear to be on the verge of applying for NATO membership.

Two well-established democracies, both completely unsuspicious of any militaristic adventurous spirit, both long years independent of political alliances, are now seeking refuge under the security umbrella of the defensive alliance.

However, it is not to be expected that Moscow will give even a thought to the fact that this fundamental change in security policy was more or less forced by the Russian behavior.

Moscow conspiracy tales

As a result of his attack on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin gets exactly what he wanted to avoid in the north-west of his country: more NATO instead of less.

Moscow will, of course, continue to propaganda its conspiracy narrative of aggressive NATO getting ever closer to poor Russia.

However, Finland and Sweden obviously believe that they can no longer afford to take this into account.

During the Cold War, the word “Finlandization” was considered a dirty word by many in the West.

The Finns always saw things differently.

It speaks volumes that Helsinki is abandoning the tried and tested concept.