STORY: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin does not rule out that tensions will develop in relations with Finland and Sweden after their decision to join NATO. If NATO builds infrastructure in the two countries, his country will have to take comparable measures itself, the Russian head of state said on Wednesday.
“As for Finland and Sweden, we don’t have the kind of problems with them that we unfortunately have with Ukraine. We have no territorial disputes with them. There is nothing that worries us about Finland and Sweden joining NATO could. If they want to, please do so. But they should be aware that they were not threatened before. Now, when NATO troops and infrastructure are deployed, we will be forced to respond in the same way and the to create the same threats to the areas from which threats are emanating against us. Everything was going well between us, but now there will be tension for sure.”
NATO had previously officially invited Finland and Sweden to join the transatlantic alliance.
Putin threatens Finland and Sweden indirectly after NATO decision
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