Finland president, prime minister urge the country to apply for NATO membership 'without delay'

The president and prime minister of Finland, a country on the border of Russia, released a statement backing an application for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Thursday amid the Kremlin's aggression on Europe's eastern flank, particularly in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman issued an ominous statement on the move.

"NATO membership would strengthen Finland’s security," Finland President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement. "As a member of NATO, Finland would strengthen the entire defence alliance."

They called for the country to proceed immediately.