As of: 06/29/2022 8:53 p.m
The NATO resolutions are rated as a “destructive course” in Moscow. And they are seen as proof that the “special operation” in Ukraine was the right move.
Political Moscow was not very surprised, but clearly disappointed about the NATO decision made in Madrid to now also include Finland and Sweden in the alliance. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov condemned this step and spoke of a “destructive course” for the North Atlantic alliance.
According to Ryabkov, the talk of Euro-Atlantic solidarity only serves as a cover for the alliance’s aggressive plans against Russia. This regrets Russia. NATO’s rhetoric is clear:
A new concept is adopted, in which Russia is identified as a threat to the alliance. But it is the Alliance that threatens us. And we will do everything to ensure our own security and that of our allies under all conditions.
Ina Ruck, ARD Moscow, on Russia’s reactions to the results of the NATO summit
daily topics 10:15 p.m., 29.6.2022
Three dimensions of change
In an interview with Russian state television, the deputy spokesman for the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, said that direct relations between Finland and Sweden and Russia were now also deteriorating. And that is only the first of a total of three dimensions.
The second dimension is the implications for regional cooperation. Because the NATO accession of Finland and Sweden transforms all existing structures, such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Council of the Barents Arctic Region and the Arctic Council, into structures in which all countries except Russia are NATO members.
For Kosatschow, the third dimension is actually collective security itself, whether in Europe or in a broader, global context. Any expansion of NATO, Kosatschow continued, would only further divide the world.
“They have been planning this iron curtain for a long time”
But that’s apparently exactly the goal, political scientist Araik Sepanyan analyzes in a political talk show close to the Kremlin:
They are supposed to block Russia from the west, from Finland to Turkey. They have planned this iron curtain for a long time. Now they have implemented this plan. Their task is: to blockade Russia from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea and create hotspots around Russia.
Not only the political scientist fails to mention that Finland and Sweden only decided to apply for NATO membership after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Peskow: Ready for further steps
Instead, the expansion of NATO that has now been decided is used as proof that the “special military operation,” as the Kremlin continues to call its war in Ukraine, was a correct and even necessary step – to protect Russia’s interests. Accordingly, one is also prepared to take further steps, said the spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov.
Let me remind you again that against the background of new threats posed by these actions of the Alliance, our Department of Defense has developed plans for a corresponding strengthening of the western borders.
As always, Peskow left it open how this strengthening should look like.
Russia’s view of the NATO summit: “A new iron curtain”
Martha Wilczynski, ARD Moscow, June 29, 2022 7:47 p.m