Finland inches closer to NATO after parliament expresses support for military alignment

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin speaks while Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto reacts during a plenary session at the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, April 20, 2022. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERS

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland inched closer to joining NATO on Wednesday after its major parliamentary groups expressed support for some form of a military alliance as a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Finnish Parliament on Wednesday began debating the possibility of Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, joining NATO.