Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has commented on the anti-Russian statements by European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
Earlier, Orpo asked the EU for money to help regions near Finland’s unilaterally closed border with Russia and said they had suffered economically allegedly because of Moscow’s actions.
“The provocative statements by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish Prime Minister Peterri Orpo, made during their joint visit to Lappeenranta near the border with Russia, essentially contain nothing new. These are again just unsubstantiated accusations against Russia,” Zakharova said on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website.
She also commented on media reports that the European official and the Finnish prime minister did not find time to communicate with residents of border areas.
“It is not surprising that in the EU, including Finland, in the absence of real threats, they diligently cultivate artificial ones allegedly emanating from Russia,” Zakharova said.
Earlier, demonstrations were held in the Finnish cities of Helsinki, Tampere and Lappeenranta calling for the opening of the border with Russia.
