Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday (29) that his country’s government does not see “problems” with the eventual entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
We have no problems with Sweden and Finland Like the one we have with Ukraine“If Sweden and Finland want to, they can join. It’s their job. They can join whatever they want,” Putin said during a press conference in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
Weeks ago, Kremlin representatives said that the two countries’ accession to NATO would be accompanied by a political and military response, without specifying the level at which Russia’s responses would be given.
Despite the announcement tempering the possibility of Finland and Sweden joining, Putin warned, also on Wednesday, that Russia would reciprocate if NATO builds infrastructure on the territory of the two potential new members.
The president, according to Russian news agencies, said he could not rule out the possibility of tensions in Moscow’s relations with Helsinki and Stockholm as a result of NATO membership.
Putin’s comments came a day after NATO member Turkey lifted its initial veto on efforts by Finland and Sweden to join the alliance after the three countries agreed to protect each other’s security.
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