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Helsinki’s excuses for not resolving border issue don’t cut it — Russian diplomat

"We reiterate responsibly that no consultations with the Russian side had been held in advance regarding the closing of the stations," Maria Zakharova added

MOSCOW, November 22. /TASS/. Finland is trying to excuse its own failures by shifting the blame for the situation in the wake of the blocking of border crossings onto Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment.

When asked to comment on a remark by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo who noted that efforts to find a diplomatic solution had failed, Zakharova said: "The attempts by the Finnish side to shift the responsibility for the situation that resulted from the closure of border crossings show the Finnish authorities’ penchant for making excuses, while stirring up Russophobic sentiment."

"We reiterate responsibly that no consultations with the Russian side had been held in advance regarding the closing of the stations," she continued. "We were confronted with a fait accompli," she insisted.

According to Zakharova, Russia made its position clear to the Finnish ambassador to Russia who had been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday. Moscow issued its protest to the Finnish diplomat over Helsinki’s move and categorically refuted allegations that Russia had been funneling migrants to the checkpoints.

On Monday, the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti said, citing sources, that Finland was planning to close the entire border with Russia on Tuesday night. Finland closed four border crossings on its eastern border, namely Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala in the early hours of November 18.

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Foreign policy Finland Maria Zakharova

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