Bild says Russia wants Finland out of NATO and Baltic bases closed

Russia’s proposals for a new European security order include demands affecting Finland, the Baltic states and Moldova, as well as Ukraine, ERR reported, citing Germany’s Bild.

According to Bild, Moscow wants Finland to leave NATO and the alliance to remove its military bases from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It also proposes turning Moldova into a federation that would include Gagauzia and Transnistria. The two regions could hold independence referendums if Moldova joins the European Union.

The proposals were presented unofficially to European representatives during Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, Bild reported. The newspaper said they came from the circle around Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Finland’s public broadcaster Yle.

On Ukraine, Russia is seeking a commitment not to join NATO, the transfer of all of Donbas to Russia, including territory still controlled by Kyiv, and the demilitarization of the ports of Odesa and Mykolaiv. Moscow would allow Ukraine to join the European Union, according to the report.

In return, Russia would withdraw its nuclear weapons from Belarus, refrain from deploying intermediate-range missiles there and pull its troops out of Transnistria. Bild said these were among several proposals being discussed through unofficial channels.

Russia has called for European security arrangements to be discussed alongside negotiations on peace in Ukraine. European countries have rejected that demand so far, while US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Jared Kushner supports it, ERR reported. European countries are discussing who could represent them in talks, but it remains unclear what that representative could discuss on their behalf.