Russia said on Monday that the West should have no illusions that Moscow will simply put up with the expansion of the NATO military alliance to include Sweden and Finland, saying it will be “a grave mistake”.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cited the post-Soviet enlargement of the NATO alliance eastwards as a reason for the invasion of Ukraine. However, the accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO – founded in 1949 to provide European security against the Soviet Union – would be one of the biggest strategic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to date.
“They should have no illusions that we will simply put up with it – and nor should Brussels, Washington and other NATO capitals,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the state RIA news agency, warning that the move was “another grave mistake with far-reaching consequences” and the “general level of military tension will increase”.
Ryabkov said the decisions by Helsinki and Stockholm to join the alliance were a mistake.
“The general level of military tension will rise, predictability in this sphere will decrease. It is a shame that common sense is being sacrificed to some phantom provision about what should be done in this unfolding situation,” Ryabkov said.
Russia has not specified what it will do in response to the Nordic enlargement of NATO, saying merely that there would be a “military-technical response.”
Finland gained independence from Russia in 1917 and fought two wars against it during World War Two during which it lost it's Karjala territory. Sweden has not fought a war for 200 years.
Source: Reuters
Russia to respond if Sweden, Finland join NATO (1)
Eestlased Soomes | 16 May 2022 | EWR
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