Earlier, neighboring Finland also took the step to join the Western alliance. This historical development is a direct result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The fear of a militarily aggressive Russia thus became greater in the two northern European countries than the desire to be neutral in international conflicts.
Putin: No Imminent Threat
Russian President Putin condemns the decision of Finland and Sweden. He said, according to state news agency Ria, that there are “no problems with these countries”, and that their accession to NATO “poses no direct threat to Russia”. But the alliance can expect a response as “military infrastructure” is expanded to the region, Putin added.
The Kremlin has always strongly opposed further expansion of NATO, which now consists of thirty countries. Putin has always explained the eastward expansion of the alliance as an unacceptable security risk for Russia. It is therefore striking that he does not call the future membership of Sweden and Finland a direct threat.
Putin made his statements at a meeting with military allies. These are the former Soviet countries of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Belarus.
This video explains what it takes for a country to join NATO:
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