Some leaders of industry and decisionmakers in Eastern Finland are prepared to consider resuming cooperation with Russia, if its war in Ukraine ends on satisfactory terms, a survey has found.

The E2 Research firm's survey heard from 96 respondents — including leaders of municipalities, companies, higher education institutions and organisations — about their feelings about the future of the Russian border-adjacent region. The findings were also based on interviews of local leaders and decisionmakers.

Just under half of respondents said they felt cooperating with Russians could be possible, but they did have a variety of reservations about the matter, according to E2 researcher Atte Penttilä.

In any case, cooperation with Russia is unlikely until there is a satisfactory peaceful end to the conflict in Ukraine. After that, survey results suggest, future cooperation would hinge on how Russia's democracy and human rights issues develop.

"Many people don't want to spend years working on cooperation before something happens. They don't want to get their fingers burned again," Penttilä explained.

With very few exceptions, Finland's land border crossings have been closed for around two years, and it doesn't seem like they will be opening again anytime soon.

The closures came after undocumented migrants from third countries began entering Finland. The move was a reaction to suspected hybrid influencing by Russia; a state-sponsored scheme known as instrumentalised migration.

Closure's local impact

The border closure was an economic blow to the region, as it ended the flow of cross-border traffic and strangled the tourism business the crossings once generated.

E2's survey found more than one-third of respondents saying they think cooperation with Russia would be unlikely and undesirable even after peace is reached in Ukraine. Respondents from educational institutions were more critical of cooperation than, for example, municipal and business leaders.

Penttilä explained the difference in attitudes may reflect that the institutions were not as reliant on cross-border cooperation as companies or municipalities were. He noted that virtually all of Finland's universities effectively cut ties with Russia.

The survey found respondents saying that Eastern Finland's future increasingly lies in the green transition and employing international experts.

More than 90 percent of respondents said they think the state should help support the region's development more than it currently does.

"The future of Eastern Finland is built on cooperation, bold investments and openings, and a change in attitude. The message from Eastern Finland is clear: concrete actions are needed now to secure the vitality of the region and exploit new opportunities," Ville Pitkänen, E2's research chief, said in a press release.

The research data was collected during September-November 2025. E2 Research interviewed 17 leading representatives from universities, chambers of commerce and municipalities in South Karelia, South Savo, Kainuu, Kymenlaakso, North Karelia and North Savo.

Its survey was answered by 96 representatives of municipalities, provinces, educational institutions and universities, as well as business and industry.