The candidacies of Sweden and Finland inNATO in response to Russia’s offensive against Ukraine constitutes a “serious mistake”, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov ruled on Monday.
This is an additional serious mistake, the consequences of which will be immense.he said, quoted by Russia’s Interfax agency.
According to him, Russia’s response depends on the practical consequences of joining of the two Scandinavian countries in the Atlantic Alliance.
For us, it is clear that the security of Sweden and Finland will not be strengthened by this decision.he hammered, noting that level of military tension [allait] increase.
” They should not think that we will just accept it. “
Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party gave the green light on Sunday to a candidacy forNATO shortly after the Finnish executive announced its desire to join the Western organization that Moscow considered an existential threat.
For Helsinki and Stockholm, two countries that never joined the Alliance even at the height of the Cold War, this reversal was the result of Russia’s offensive against Ukraine, which Moscow considered a threat by its neighbors.
Finland specifically shares about 1300 km of borders with Russia.
Moscow has, among other factors, justified its attack on Ukraine by its engagement withNATO and its political, diplomatic and military support in Kyiv. So the Russian authorities want to push the Westerners away from its borders.
The Alliance countries also provided a quantity of weapons to Ukrainian forces fighting the Russian army for almost three months.
The Finnish and Swedish parliaments examine the candidates
Finnish and Swedish elected officials on Monday examined the candidacies of the two Nordic countries forNATOwith a large majority secured in both chambers.
The Eduskunta, the Finnish Parliament, began a marathon session on Monday morning to review the candidacy officially presented on Sunday by the executive, before a vote will take place at the earliest on Tuesday.
According to the latest Finnish media report, at least 85% of the 200 elected will vote yes to the candidacy forNATO.
The only country threatening Europe’s security, and openly waging a war of aggression, is Russiasaid Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin who opened the debate.
Our security environment has changed dramatically, he said. Due to the large number of interventions planned – more than 150 – the vote could not take place on Monday, chamber president Matti Vanhanen warned.
The Swedish Parliament will hear a speech from Social Democrat Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson followed by leaders of parliamentary parties.
With the Social Democratic party’s historic move to power on Sunday, six of the eight parties in parliament are now in favor of membership, representing a theoretical majority of 304 representatives out of a total of 349.
But the Prime Minister said on Sunday he wanted to make sure a extensive support parliament, before the announcement of the official decision of the Swedish government.
With information from Reuters
Source: Radio-Canada
