Russia Notifies Finland, Pursuing NATO Membership, of Gas Supply Suspension

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Reports have emerged that Russia has decided to cut off natural gas supplies to Finland, which is pursuing membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

According to local media on the 20th (local time), Finland's state-owned energy company Gasum issued a statement saying that the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom "notified us that it will cut off the gas sent to Finland as of 4 a.m. GMT on the 21st."

Gasum said it had prepared for this situation in advance and stated, "If there are no problems in the supply chain, we will be able to supply gas to all customers for the coming months."

Gazprom's move came immediately after Finland submitted its NATO membership application. Finland officially submitted the application along with Sweden on the 18th.

Russia has opposed the NATO membership moves of the two countries and warned that it would take 'corresponding measures.' Earlier, Russia also cut off electricity supplies to Finland on the 14th.