Finland, a country that neighbors Russia, is now only waiting for the ratification of its admission by the Turkish parliament, promised by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to join NATO.
Finland and Sweden will become “legitimate targets” of Russia’s “retaliatory” measures after they become NATO members, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm said on Tuesday, bringing Moscow’s threatening rhetoric back to the fore.
“After Finland and Sweden join” the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, “the total length of Russia’s border with NATO will almost double,” Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev said in a lengthy text posted on the Russian diplomatic mission’s website. in Sweden.
“If anyone still thinks that this will in one way or another improve the security of Europe, be sure that the new members of the hostile alliance will become legitimate targets of Russian retaliatory measures, including measures of a military nature,” clarified the Russian diplomat. .
The warning came as Moscow appeared in recent months to put aside threats to the capitals of the two Nordic countries following their decision in May 2022 to go ahead with applications to join the Atlantic alliance.
The nominations, which turned the page on decades of neutrality, were characterized as a direct consequence of the invasion of the Russian armed forces into the territory of Ukraine.
Finland, a country that neighbors Russia, is now only waiting for the ratification of its admission by the Turkish parliament, promised by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to join NATO.
As for Sweden, its candidacy is currently facing the veto of Ankara and the delay of its ratification by the Hungarian parliament.
However, Stockholm still hopes to secure its membership before the next NATO summit in July in Vilnius.
Public opinion has shifted dramatically in favor of joining the Atlantic alliance after the Russian invasion of Ukraine: support for it exceeded 80% in Finland, close to two-thirds in Sweden, according to opinion polls.
But for Russia’s ambassador to Sweden — who was born in Kherson, in present-day Ukraine — Sweden is “taking a step into the abyss” by deciding to join NATO.
Criticizing, among other things, that the decision was announced “hastily”, without a referendum, he stressed the danger that the NATO command “decides to become fully involved in the conflict”.
“In that case, the Swedes will undoubtedly be dragged (into the war) and sent to their deaths for the interests of others,” Mr Tatarintsev added.
Source :Skai
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