Antti Helanterä, Finland's former ambassador to Moscow and current strategic director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discusses in his new book, "Muistiinmerkintöjä Moskovasta," the concerning conversations he had with Russian influencers following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While distancing himself from the views expressed by these influencers, Helanterä argues that including them in his book exposes the alarming ideological depths to which many citizens of Finland's neighbor have sunk.

During his time in Moscow from 2020 to 2024, Helanterä met with a range of influential individuals, but he refrains from naming them, instead attempting to represent their perspectives to illustrate their political and ideological positions. One notable encounter was with an individual linked to the extremist Izborsk Club in February 2023, who initiated a conversation with a blatant dismissal of democratic principles, asserting that only the key leader's opinions bear significance regardless of the political structure.

Helanterä's reflections underscore a growing concern within Finland regarding the evolving narrative and attitudes within Russia. As these ideologies challenge the notion of democracy and compromise, Helanterä's observations may heighten the urgency for a robust foreign policy response from Finland amidst escalating tensions, hinting at the unpredictable nature of Finland's future relationships with its powerful neighbor, Russia.