Jakarta –
Russian President Vladimir Putin regrets Finalndia’s decision to join NATO. Putin warned that there would be problems after the decision.
Reported by AFP, Monday (18/12/2023), Finland’s entry into NATO marked a major change in the security landscape in northern Europe. Finland’s decision also adds around 1,300 kilometers (830 miles) to the NATO alliance’s front line with Russia.
It is also a blow to President Putin, who has long warned against NATO expansion.
“They (the West) took over Finland and dragged it into NATO! Why are we at odds with Finland? All disputes, including those of a territorial nature in the mid-20th century, were all resolved long ago,” Putin said in an interview published in Sunday.
Putin said that Russia and Finland actually had no problems. However, now, he said, there will be problems facing Finland after the decision to join NATO.
“There was no problem, but now there will be a problem, because we will now create the Leningrad military district there and definitely concentrate military units there,” Putin added in an interview with Russian state television station Russia 1.
Putin also rejected US President Joe Biden’s remarks earlier this month that Putin would press ahead if he took over Ukraine, and suggested that Russia could eventually attack NATO allies and draw US troops into the conflict.
“Russia has no reason, no interest, no geopolitical interest, no economic, political or military interest, to go to war with NATO countries,” adding that Moscow does not have any territorial claims in NATO countries.
“There is no desire to spoil relations with them (NATO countries), we are interested in developing relations,” Putin added.
(country/country)
2023-12-17 21:25:28
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