Although both Northern European countries have sought closer and closer cooperation with NATO since the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the two countries previously explicitly opposed joining, which was not supported by public opinion before the start of the Russian offensive against Ukraine, Iltalehti reported on Monday. Finnish and Swedish mass newspaper Expressen, referring to sources close to the topic.
However, with the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, a definite change occurred in the NATO policy of the two Scandinavian countries. The political leaders of Finland and Sweden will meet in the week of May 16 to publicly announce their request to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Russia has repeatedly warned Finland and Sweden that there will be consequences and will be forced to take appropriate countermeasures if the two countries join NATO.
Marija Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated in mid-April that NATO membership will not strengthen their national security.
"Actually, this would put Finland and Sweden in the front line of NATO," said the spokesperson.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy president of the Russian Security Council, said that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Russia would be forced to strengthen its military, especially nuclear, capabilities in the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia.
Source: MTI
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