Russia warned today that it will take countermeasures after Sweden joins NATO to counter any threats to its national security.

“We will be watching closely what Sweden will do in this aggressive military bloc, how it will fulfill its role as a (NATO) member… and shape our response accordingly, with military-technical and other countermeasures“, said the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova.

Pointing out that Sweden’s non-aligned policy was an important factor in maintaining stability in northern Europe, Zakharova argued that the country’s accession to NATO would undermine its sovereignty.

“Sweden’s accession to NATO is accompanied by the continued cultivation of anti-Russian hysteria in the country, which is unfortunately encouraged by the Swedish political and military leadership, but whose main source is abroad. It is not the Swedes themselves who make this choice. That choice was made (by others) for the Swedes,” Zakharova said.

Moscow’s unspecified “countermeasures”, depending on the size of NATO’s military force and the development of weapons systems on the territory of Sweden, were also mentioned by the Russian embassy in Stockholm through its post on Telegram on Tuesday.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson commented that the Russian comments were not surprising. “They said the same thing when Finland joined NATO,” Kristersson said during his visit to the town of Trollhetan. “It is known that Russia does not like that Sweden and/or Finland are members of NATO, but we decide,” added the Swedish Prime Minister. Christerson said Sweden “is on high alert” to respond to any action by Russia. “We are well prepared and we are watching what they are doing,” he assured.