Ah, look at the main stories of following. Now, russia says that a Ukrainian Rocket attack is damaged to dam in a rush and how region than this could cause catastrophic flooding. Must go back to officials in her song say that have been Power Outages as a result of the attack. A 30 meter high down controls the flow of washer long part of the ne pro river, which cuts through Eastern Ukraine since october, both russia and ukraine and repeatedly accused each other of panning to breach the dam. What use of explosives present . Rosemary zalinski had warned its destruction would cause a large scale disaster, as i beg, has more what were hearing from the russian back authorities. Because on is that they say the ukrainians are massing tanks and Armored Vehicles along the course on axis. An in a high lumber and run, theres been a number of artillery strikes, taking place on the city. And of course, her son is a very important city, both politically and militarily, for russia, its the only regional capital that theyve managed to capture. Since the start of the war, its a gateway to crimea and the rest of the size of also the ukrainians managed to take a closes russian troops. The so far, what we hear is that theres no electricity in carson. And the reason, given that by the Russian Forces is what they according to the act of public college. What are the headlines at least 19 people have been killed in a plane crash and tons and here. Yeah, crossed, operated by Precision Air crashed into late victoria is attempted to land in a nearby town. Rescues were able to wade through the water to bring some people still inside the plane to safety. The crash has been blamed on bad weather, but the investigation is still happening. The president of the towns near is called for calm. As the rescue operation continues and the 27th Un Climate Conference has been opened in egypt. Delegates have agreed to officially add to the agenda, the issue of who should pay compensation for the impact of Climate Change. The 2 weeks representatives from maybe 200 countries will hold talks in the city of shallow shaft expectations for some high of the year of climate disasters. Will bring you more in everything were covering a bit later on in the news. Our coming up at 2100 gmc, but for now its time to talk to our era. Ah ah, for much of the last century, finland found itself at the crossroads between east and west. Before becoming independent in 1917, the nordic nation was part of sweden finelli 7 centuries in a holding of imperial russia. And later, a target of the soviet union. With the motto swedes, we are no more russians. We cannot become therefore fins we must bay, finan, lift its poor, agrarian economy behind to become a stable, free market economy driven by services and manufacturing, and a member of the European Union. With a border with russia more than 1300 kilometers long, maintaining utility in the power struggle between east and west was central to the country survival. But the ukraine wore his push the limits of that neutrality. Im ta mccray, in helsinki. Finland had previously refused to join night, overt following russias invasion of ukraine. Helsinki set aside its historical neutrality and formerly requested to join the with military alliance. But moscow has warned, there could be political or military consequences. So with the russian invasion possible and is finland prepared to face it . The president of finland saline nestor talks to well g era president of finland saline. And esther, thank you so much for talking to al jazeera and finland has, i guess, quite proudly remains neutral and for, for many decades. So by joining nato you giving some of that up. How significant was their decision . First of all, we havent took gold, also neutral, or rather militarily aligned and turn the feeling we and sweden have had that from our own will. We remain as such and that it even my to stabilize their situation in bold, dixie. But when a president putin announced that was last december, that no enlargement of nato any more, i was immediately quite sure that we had to do something. You know, we have been enhanced partner innate, or we have a, a lot of a Bilateral Corporation with the sweden, with usa, with u. K or that already. But that was not enough anymore. So the prison person pushed finland over the edge to join night or more. Lets say 1st he pushed by he said speech decembers speech us to realize that we have to change. We have to go further. And then the final step was when he ducked ukraine than it was very clear, a former nato secretary general said that he spent 4 years his entire term trying to convince finland to join nato and post and manage to do it in 4 weeks. Can you just explain, i guess before the war and before putin speak last year, what was the resistance and finland to joining nice oh, do. I wouldnt call it resistance actually we have hat. Government, a program at 4 years decades. The statement that we keep possibility of applying nato membership open and that has been a message, you know, wait, so either toe, our relation with russia was so normal, even good. We all the time kept in mind, developing our own Defense Forces in the past, present and said that as finland does, join nato, you will be an enemy of russia. So, are you now an enemy of russia now that you have applied to joint . Well, they have listed countries which are not friendly and we are on the list that we would have been on that list. Even without applying the membership, i mean helping ukraine like we do, which we would have done in every case that already was enough to be listed. So thats the situation at the moment, but so yes, he has said earlier on 4 years ago on the booting has said that so far he looks over the porter and he sees phineas friend barty few chosen. He sees the enemy joke and how does that he is, but he soon, yes and it. But how does that set with with you, that you and now an enemy to russia . Well, thats what he has said. So we know and you know where you stand now . Actually, i decided to just before we made the decision to call him and tell him that while we are training the nato, he took it very calmly in the spring. But like i tried to tell you, we have had our, our experiences from centuries, not that friendly bonds always with russia. So that has been not forgotten. We are all the time prepared. Finland has one of the strongest militaries and the was widely regarded portion. Yes. Of course youre having, having, you know, especially when it comes to winter warfare. Yeah. So, did you not think that that might be enough, a deterrence to stop russia potentially inviting. And you could have relied on your military power and might, and your, i guess, insight into how russians might have been looking to invite if they were indeed do you think that you could have fallen back on that . Would that have been enough instead of taking that, i guess greater late and joining nato and getting the particular okay. Lets go back to 90 his 1st. We have been fielding oper, our defense, in spite of the fact that in the end of the 1900 ninetys, well, we will see that cold war is over. Her friendship will remain. We have all the time peeled up our own Defense Forces. But understanding that that is not enough, thats why i have p and all the time advocating that European Union should do more together for security. And that we became an enhanced partner in nato. We have director agreements with sweden, with u. K. We that usa bilaterally and even try lateral agreements. So it was kind of a convenient combination, our own for cease and capabilities plus, working close together with you, nato neighbors, even transatlantic lee. So i think that was considered to be an offer before all this. And i want to had that i have said earlier on, many years ago that my belief is that if there would be war time, which was set very seal or ethical, which i said to always. So those who have similar interest, well fight together. Even he said there are no applications. So memberships, thats what has happened in every crate for, i mean, thought was, you just have l eyes if you have the same interest. So maybe this combination was something we relied on before russia gave its opinion on to protect. So ukraine, so seeing how the invasion has played out. And i guess a lot of the whist not sending troops into ukraine to that play a part and wanting to join nato because, you know, theyve been crying out for a defense from the us. And from the you was that a consideration that was given that you saw what had happened in ukraine and realize that these countries were not willing to mobilize troops into ukraine to help defend their land. I think that we were well aware, even before the said the attacks, that nato itself, her doesnt give a 5 article cover, 2 countries, which should are not mendez. But what i explained to you was a different situation. If the world is in fire, everybody is involved. So its quite quite natural that those who have similar interest, you know, way, corporate, was there any pressure from other countries to join nato, for you in sweden to join nato . Because it might have, if you didnt, it might have seemed like you were, i just standing back standing aside and in a way, i guess, supporting or not condemning rusher and they are invasion of ukraine. First of all, we very well knew. It was said by many countries that youre welcome to nato, but no one really tried to push us because i think could people wanted to avoid shots, shots, or be idea at what . Surely ukrainian situation showed that in shots casey sir, need to, doesnt cover. So that of salary, and it seems like the decision to join nato happened because of the war much quicker than it probably would have any other time only a few months. So how has the public reacted to that . If you look opinion pose from january, you see the clear arise or the day after day. So we ended up from 25 to 2, approximately 18. That was very natural actually. I guess opinion polls are one thing, but you know, going taking it to a referendum is another. Was there any consideration of the, of a, of even doing that . I had your own opinion that we should have a very reliable understanding what people think. And the most reliable you surely get through referendum, but know that the figures poll after poll done by different in the to says, gave the same result. I think its proven that the fins what fins thought putting the war to one side and hopefully it wont be going on to too much longer. What are the longer term implications of joining nato in the, in the decades ahead . Do you think in the future . Yes, well i think we have done actually seni sting away our o. S. T to tional organizational security. But that doesnt end up the, im sure that the info not we will take care of our own defense to because we do understand that we have half of the nato russian border as our duty to keep it clean. Now, just on an item shipped from where it is at, at the moment 28 of the 30 countries have all you have ready ratified your membership hungry has said its going to do so in december. Turkey is Still Holding out. So how confident are you that you will become a member . And when do you think that that might be at the and im quite confident about getting a time table that is quite difficult. How i see those situation . Its president. Every once the solution is only in precedent, there, do us hid actually and we have several times said we condemn or terrorism or so that one which they face the we are following. And that the secretary agreed with turkey. We are following the European Convention on the departing deportations, and we will follow nato if nato de la develop some mechanisms against terrorism. These are the 2 actually obligations we have. We have followed them. So what do you think is the sticking point, or what is Holding Turkey back from ratifying you . I think that it is commonly known that turkey subpoena unsatisfied not only with what sweden or less finland is doing, but also with other countries said i, i think they want to raise the question now on discussion and on knowledge. So its very difficult to make any estimation. So when, when they will proceed, it everyone will react, but im confident and im not worried because 28 countries have now said that years youre capable of joining nato and that we see that your birth, the, of getting the article 5 coverage that 28 countries has already said it, whats the message to president , early one, you know, the delay that a lot of critics and analysts have said that he might be delaying to play to a domestic audience a hit of the elections next year. Do you think thats the case and if it is, is that just playing politics with something that has got much larger ramifications . It might very well be. We got an opinion paula from turkey. And it seems that the slide maturity of people would like turkey to accept our ratify our membership, but he in Airlines Party the resistance he is maturity. So that gives a hint of the domestic policies. Like i said, we should not be very worried, but surely expecting drug case and we will take place what your Prime Minister has said to one of the risks of turkey and hungry, delaying. What do you think those risks are . I do repeat what i said earlier on february march, that even though we were not expecting any military actions, reactions from russia, there might well take place, nasty things and thats a game they know to how to play like what, what hi prayed world to includes almost every possibility you can imagine, one of the ways that finland looking to defend itself as, as build a fence. I believe the Main Political Party to have a back plans to build a fence which will be equipped with surveillance cameras, senses and topped with razor wire to stop russians from seeking asylum and finland. Do you not think though, that building a wall and wood is a very anew or a pin solution to the problem . What we have seen, some was in, in 40 countries in poland, in the crease. And i wanted to actually call it some wall. Its offense. And well, we cant fence old 1300 kilometers. So how i have understood that our Border Guards think that fin said to certain extent nearby to official Border Crossing places keep the possibility of keeping an order and i would to call it more offense of arranging to arrange order own border than so as not to deter people from trying to find asylum in finland. Well to order them through a process order block, order them to process. Yes, thats in my opinion. The idea of fence and we all know what are the international agreement, sir, if sir people asking them for asylum . You have to study the case, but its probably a significant concern of, you know, as we saw recently with the russian mobilization and yes, hundreds of thousands of russians let the fleeing the country in all directions where the russians. Yeah, exactly. So how concerning how many people could you expect, or are you expecting to potentially, you know, try and try and into finland from russia . Actually, we had an experience in 2015 winter time when suddenly people started to come from russia asking for asylum. And at the end, we found out that people from 30 to nationalities came through asking for reciting. I do not believe that the same would now be repeated. We havent seen any sign on that. Not at least yet, but wealth warfare in ukraine warfare or elsewhere. Maybe even the impact of Climate Change might push people moving and it is possible that they move also, russia. I just want to quickly talk about your relationship with person because ive, youve spoken to him probably more than most world leaders. And were you surprised that he went ahead with the invasion to begin with . And what do you think that initially he was trying to achieve . Yes, i was surprised. Well, we have seen a ts most 9 years now that they hold to certain areas in don bus and crimea. But a sudden, a duct to clearly invade the whole country or change or chino, of ukraine. That was really surprising, surprising in a way that when we surely heard from the late last year, that it might be possible. But it was surprising to see that how widely the preparations were done and the final attack. Yeah. Were you surprised now though . 7 or 8 months on into the war at, i guess, the lack of success that russia has had. Many people thought that they would be able to take ukraine in the better of wigs and occupy it. That clearly hasnt happened. So when do you think the wars at now . Well, that happened did not happen. Also because suddenly europe and the west united very much and gave and still giving a lot of help to ukraine. Its almost impossible now to estimate what happens at the end when the piece will revise. And now when you look to listen to this species, i have said that in poker terms, he has put all in including himself at his fate and to that makes heater well, even more dangerous in a way that i do not believe that he is going to give up. So what do you think that actually means that hes not going to give up . Well, that even maybe he maybe anything, maybe he will go to any any lint, including maybe the new things that he can win. No, i wouldnt speculate that much with the nuclear armament. No, but but if he is all n and like you say he himself has put his reputation clearly on the line here and hes being backed into a corner. You think that his only way out is to fight fight out rather than take a backward step, at least it means that that like i said, its impossible to see when does the warm wouldnt wealth if ukraine witness that would end it, but its a long journey to, if they were way for europe, for the u. K, for the us to try and de escalate at this point, where do you think the next step is in this war going into what is going to no doubt be a long cold winter . How do you see the next few months playing out . Yes. About escalation, what we have seen actually the theas concerning an escalation where you know a higher up in february, march and little by little i would say that that well, strong armament has been given to ukraine. All that kind of things. What happens during the winter . Its measurement of resilience not only ukrainian spout europeans. And on the other hand, also in russia we, we have seen more people in russia reacting more, at least being unsatisfied with their situation. And even their leaving standouts are much more difficult at the moment. So its a competition resiliency way what we are facing a president of finland, sally now. So thank you for talking to al jazeera. Thank you. It has been a crate by ser. Thank you. 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