Social Studies 2

Finland had a unique relationship with the Soviet Union, which is not necessarily shared by other European countries. Since the 1920's, Finland and the Soviet Union maintained diplomatic relations and conducted a reliable trade, with the former enjoying access to Russian natural resources. During the Cold War, Finland maintained its independence from the Soviet Union and gained strong support from the West. After 1984, other European countries, including France, Austria, West Germany, and Italy began trading with the Soviet Union and buying natural gas from western Siberia. This was beneficial for both parties, as the Soviets could receive hard currency for the resources, and the non-Communist European countries got access to Russian natural resources.