Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country will respond “in the same way” if NATO deployed military forces in Finland and Sweden.
This came in response to the NATO invitation yesterday, Wednesday, Sweden and Finland to join the alliance.
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The British newspaper “The Guardian” quoted statements by Putin at a press conference on Wednesday evening in the Turkmen capital, Ashqabab.
He did not rule out the emergence of tensions in Moscow’s relations with Helsinki and Est.com about their joining NATO.
“We have no problems with Sweden and Finland like the one with Ukraine, and we have no border differences,” Putin said.
He added: “If Finland and Sweden want to join (NATO), it is up to them, they can join what they want.”
He warned that “if military units are deployed there, we will have to respond similarly, and to raise the same threats to those areas where threats arise for us.”
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Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden against joining NATO, saying that this would lead to “serious military and political consequences.”
It will force her to “restore military balance” by strengthening its defenses in the Baltic region, including deploying nuclear weapons.
On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov commented on the invitation of NATO Finland and Sweden to join the alliance, saying:
“We condemn the irresponsible path of NATO, which destroys the European Temple or the rest of it.”
He added: “I have great doubts about whether the coming period will be calm for our neighbors in northern Europe.”
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Today, the 32nd Summit for the Alliance, which is currently being held in the Spanish capital Madrid, will end during the period 28 June.
With the participation of heads of state and governments of 41 out of 44, as well as foreign and defense ministers.
