So in the Winter War Finland was forced to cede territory to the Soviet Union. In the Continuation War even more territory was lost. These lands were not insignificant and included Finland's second largest city. Many Finns lost their lands, businesses, and homes that they had had for generations.

Fast forward to 1989-1992: the USSR collapses, splinters, and goes bankrupt. Why did Helsinki not give Moscow an offer along the lines of: "We'll pay you X billion dollars to restore the Finnish territories to us and move out the Russian colonists that live there now." Those territories have much value to Finland, but they make up just 1% of the Russian landmass. With Russia's economy in ruins and the threat of more dismemberment imminent if the Russian economic situation got worse , it's quite possible, even likely, that the Russian government at the time would have been willing to part with 1% of their landmass to save the rest. It was a brief window of opportunity that was squandered. Why??? If the lost territories had been regained, then surely Finland would be stronger, wealthier, and safer today.

It's a pertinent question because it seems in 1989-1992 that Helsinki was caught unprepared. Today another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity might be around the corner. Putin would never give back the lost territories, but Putin has also most likely staked the survival of his regime on his Ukraine invasion, and invasion that is going very badly. If Ukraine kicks out the Russians, and Putin is consequently deposed, could a situation similar to the events of 1989-1992 be around the corner in Russia? If so, why doesn't Finland have an official policy on regaining its lost territories? Once again, a brief window of opportunity might be lost, never to return.