Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Finland joining NATO will not help the two countries develop a friendly relationship, Finnish media reported on Thursday.

Answering a question from a Finnish journalist at his annual press conference in the Kremlin, Putin said that the question of Finland joining NATO appears from time to time.

Such a decision will hardly promote security in the world, he said.

Drawing NATO border closer to Russia will not promote the development of friendly relations between Finland and its neighbors, the president said. But he added that the final decision will be made by the Finnish people.

Source: Xinhua