Putin Issues New Warning To Sweden And Finland Regarding Building NATO Infrastructure

Finland and Sweden Joining NATO: Following the beginning of Russia's military action in pro-Western Ukraine on February 24, Sweden and Finland have both chosen to submit applications to join NATO.

President Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, that Russia has "no problem" with Finland and Sweden joining NATO. During a press conference in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, Putin stated that "we don't have problems with Sweden and Finland as we do with Ukraine."

There are no territorial issues between us, the Russian leader added. Nothing about Sweden and Finland joining NATO could cause us concern. Finland and Sweden can join if they so want. They can decide that. They are free to join anything they wish.

Putin added that if military infrastructure and contingents were stationed there, though, "we would be required to respond symmetrically and raise the same threats for those territories where risks have emerged for us."After Russia began its military campaign in pro-Western Ukraine on February 24, Sweden and Finland have both chosen to submit applications to join NATO. The official application procedure for membership began on Wednesday at the NATO summit in Madrid.

Russia had previously expressed opposition to the idea of the two Nordic nations joining the alliance, claiming it would be a "destabilizing factor" for global security. Putin criticized NATO's "imperial ambitions" despite this, saying that the alliance was using the war in Ukraine to try to establish its "supremacy.""The collective goal of the West and NATO is not Ukraine and the welfare of the Ukrainian people, but rather a means to safeguard their own interests," stated Putin. He continued, "The leaders of the NATO countries want to... show their dominance, their imperial ambitions.

The Russian leader claimed that the Atlantic alliance and "most importantly the United States have long required an external enemy behind which they can organize their supporters." "Iran wasn't good for that. We've given them this opportunity... to gather the whole world around them."