HELSINKI. June 20 (Interfax) - Relations between Finland and Russia will remain frozen as long as hostilities continue in Ukraine, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said when presenting the government's foreign and security policy report to journalists on Thursday.
The report was drawn up by the government together with the president.
Finland will only maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, as well as necessary cooperation between the authorities, including on border issues, the report said.
"Finland is not facing an immediate military threat" from Russia, the report said. But Helsinki must be prepared for the use or threat of military force against Finland, it said.
Finland should also maintain its knowledge of Russia, and "as far as possible, we will support efforts to expand the room for maneuver for civil society in Russia," the report said.
"We hope that Russia will transform into a democracy," Valtonen said, adding, however, that she does not believe in the possibility of rapid changes in the neighboring country.
Finland expects Russian "hybrid attacks" on it to continue, citing the influx of asylum seekers to the eastern border allegedly organized by Russia as an example.
"We can expect Russia to strengthen its military presence and operations on its western borders" after the conflict in Ukraine is over, the report said.
"Finland's and Sweden's NATO memberships and the increasingly close bilateral cooperation arrangements between the Nordic countries and the United States strengthen the stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe, reducing the risk of the use of military force in Finland's neighboring areas," the report said.
Finland also pledged to actively participate in forming NATO's nuclear deterrence policy.
Support for Finland's independence and territorial integrity is a key priority of the country's foreign and security policy, along with non-involvement in military conflict and security and welfare guarantees for Finns.