I amFinland and Sweden will become “legitimate targets” for Russian “retaliation” once they become NATO members, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm warned on Tuesday, reviving the rhetoric of threats from Moscow.
“After the merger of Finland and Sweden, the total length of the borders between Russia and NATO will almost double,” argues Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev in a speech published on the site of Russian Travel in Sweden.
“If it seems to anyone that this will somehow improve the security of Europe, the new members of the hostile camp are sure to become legitimate targets for Russian retaliation, including of a military nature,” the ambassador has long warned. Allegation against joining the coalition.
The warning comes as Moscow has appeared in recent months to sideline threats against the two Nordic capitals since their historic decision last May to apply to join the Atlantic alliance.
After decades of neutrality, the candidates are pulling out of military alliances, a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland, a country bordering Russia, is only awaiting Turkish approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pledge to join NATO.
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