NATO members Denmark and Estonia said they would welcome Finland's union with the alliance, foreign media write, Telegrafi reports.

In a Twitter post posted by the Danish Ministry of State on Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “Strong messages from the President and Prime Minister of Finland.

DK [Denmark] will certainly warmly welcome Finland to NATO.

"It will strengthen NATO and our common security, and Denmark will do its utmost for a speedy accession process after the formal application."

Earlier Thursday, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced their support for NATO membership, saying in a joint statement: "Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay.

"We hope that the national steps that are still needed to make this decision will be taken quickly in the coming days."

Meanwhile, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Estonia supported a "rapid accession process" for Finland to join NATO, adding that Finland's possible application would have the "full support" of the country.

". You can count on our full support.

We support a fast acceptance process.

"From our side we will take the necessary steps", added Kallas.

Otherwise, since the start of Russian aggression in Ukraine in February, public support for NATO membership in Finland has increased from about 30% to almost 80% in some polls.

Once parliament has approved the idea in principle and any other domestic legislative barriers have been removed, NATO is expected to invite Finland to negotiate its accession.

Finland shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, which has warned against NATO membership, saying there will be consequences.

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