COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥 Finland on Friday joined the three Baltic countries in banning vehicles with Russian license plates from entering their territory, a joint move in line with a recent interpretation of the European Union鈥檚 sanctions against Moscow over its war on Ukraine.
The Nordic EU member鈥檚 Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the ban would stop private cars from entering Finland as of Friday midnight, Finnish broadcaster YLE said.
imposed the measure. Estonia said the decision followed 鈥渢he additional interpretation of the published by the European Commission鈥 on Sept. 8.
As for the exclave of Kaliningrad, which is surrounded by Lithuania, Russian citizens will be able to continue transiting through the southernmost Baltic state by train.
Under the EU鈥檚 decision, motor vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are no longer allowed to enter the territory of the 27-member bloc, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic states are of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
YLE said that Russian-registered cars with fewer than 10 passengers will no longer be permitted to enter Finland from Russia, although some exceptions are likely.
In April, Finland joined NATO, doubling Russia鈥檚 border with the world鈥檚 biggest security alliance. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with its eastern neighbor.
The three Baltic states are also NATO members.
