Moscow –
Russia react strongly to the decision Finland and Sweden which has just announced plans to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Was warned by Russia that joining NATO is a big mistake.
As reported AFPOn Monday (16/5/2022), Russian authorities warned that they would take steps to respond to the decisions of Finland and Sweden.
“This is another big mistake with far-reaching consequences,” Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
“The general level of military tension will increase,” Ryabkov said.
“It’s a shame that common sense is being sacrificed for some imaginary ideas about what to do in the current situation.”
Furthermore, Ryabkov said the security of the two countries would not be strengthened as a result of the move. Ryabkov stressed that Moscow would take certain steps, which he did not elaborate further.
“They shouldn’t have the illusion that we’re just going to accept this,” he stressed.
Finland and Sweden are ready to leave their non-aligned position militarily as a defense against feared aggression from Russia. Moscow has warned Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer land border, that there will be “countermeasures”.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto talks by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Saturday (14/5) to discuss plans to join NATO. The Kremlin revealed that Putin views any decision to end Finland’s military neutrality as a ‘mistake’.
Watch the video ‘Finland Wants to Join NATO, Cuts Relations with Russia’:
(nvc / dhn)
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