Helsinki ∙ Finland will sign a defense cooperation agreement with the US on the 18th, paving the way for US troops to arrive at Russia's doorstep. Finland, the Nordic country with the largest border with Russia, joined NATO shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Finnish Foreign Minister Elena Valtonen said that this is an important defense cooperation agreement in the crisis. Under the agreement, US forces will be allowed to operate independently at 15 locations in Finland.

At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow that there is no chance of peace in Ukraine unless the objective of the special military operation is accomplished. But he did not specify what Russia's objective was. He also said that 6,17,000 Russian troops are currently in the combat zone in Ukraine.