What were the closest non-Communist European countries to the Soviet Union?

Finland had a long history of trade and cordial diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. After 1984, France, Austria, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), and Italy joined in. They began receiving natural gas from western Siberia through a pipeline, for which the Soviet Union was paid in hard currency.

To find the closest non-Communist European countries to the Soviet Union, we need to consider proximity and diplomatic relations. Here is an explanation of how to determine these countries:

1. Check the geography: Look at a map to identify countries that share a border with the Soviet Union. This can help determine proximity.

2. Consider diplomatic relations: Research the historical relations between the Soviet Union and each country to see if they had cordial or positive relations.

Based on this information, here are the closest non-Communist European countries to the Soviet Union:

1. Finland: Finland shares a border with the Soviet Union and had a long history of trade and cordial diplomatic relations.

2. France: Though not bordering the Soviet Union, France began having trade relations and diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union after 1984.

3. Austria: Located to the south of the Soviet Union, Austria also established diplomatic relations and trade with the Soviet Union.

4. West Germany (now Germany): Despite not sharing a border, West Germany had significant diplomatic and economic relations with the Soviet Union, including the transportation of natural gas through pipelines.

5. Italy: Another distant country from the Soviet Union, Italy also started receiving natural gas via the pipelines and had established relations with the Soviets.

Remember, the status of being non-Communist was fluid during different time periods, so this answer might vary slightly depending on the specific timeframe you are referring to.