Helsinki, 23 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Finland's President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday signed the legislation that clears the way for his country's NATO membership, at least from the Finnish side.

Parliament had voted by a large majority in early March in favour of the government's proposal on the legislation needed for the country to join the Western defence alliance.

Niinistö had announced after the vote that he wanted to sign off on it before the Finnish parliamentary elections on April 2.

Finland, however, still has to wait for Turkey and Hungary to ratify its membership application. All 28 other NATO members have already approved the accession.

Hungary aims to ratify Finland's accession on March 27. Turkey has also announced its intention to vote on it soon.

Against the backdrop of the Russian war in Ukraine, the Nordic country applied for membership in NATO last May together with Sweden.

The two countries had long hoped to join NATO at the same time. But because Turkey has so far voiced opposition to Sweden's accession, Finland could go ahead alone.

Finland shares a border with Russia that spans over 1,300 kilometres.