Finnish leaders on Thursday announced their support for Finland to join the NATO military alliance amid rising public support for NATO membership following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

In a joint statement, Finland's President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said, "Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay."

Italy's Economic Development Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and Germany's former Parliamentary State Secretary Willy Wimmer expressed their belief that NATO's expansion would not help to end the on-going Russia-Ukraine conflict