WHY UKRAINE REPRESENTS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO RUSSIA AND NOT FINLAND?

The question of why Russia considers Ukraine’s potential NATO membership an existential threat while refraining from similar aggression toward Finland, despite its longer shared border, requires a nuanced exploration of historical, geopolitical, and strategic factors. To fully understand Russia’s approach, we must examine the historical context of NATO’s expansion, the unique significance of Ukraine to Russia, and Finland’s distinct geopolitical positioning.