Putin warns Finland, Sweden over NATO as Ukraine braces for eastern assault

GBNews24 Desk//

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Finland and Sweden on Monday to expect a “response” for applying to join NATO as Ukraine braced for a new push by Moscow’s forces in its eastern Donbas region.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on Monday confirmed her country would apply to join the military alliance, the day after Finland — which shares a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border with Russia — said the same.

The two Nordic countries are giving up decades of military non-alignment over fears they could be next in line following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Russia, whose war has sparked global outrage, killed thousands and created millions of refugees, warned that NATO’s expansion would have consequences, AFP reports.

The move poses “no direct threat for us… but the expansion of military infrastructure to these territories will certainly provoke our response”, Putin told a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had earlier called it a “grave mistake with far-reaching consequences”.

Russia has already suspended electricity supplies to Finland, citing payment issues.

But Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told lawmakers: “Our security environment has fundamentally changed.

“The only country that threatens European security, and is now openly waging a war of aggression, is Russia.”

– ‘Behind schedule’ –

Despite the resources of its giant neighbour, Ukraine has managed to repel Russian forces for longer than many initially thought, fortified by weapons and cash from Kyiv’s Western allies.