Finland, Sweden may soon become part of NATO

Finland and Sweden could soon join NATO, moves likely to anger Moscow. NATO officials told CNN that discussions about Swedish and Finland's membership in the bloc have become extremely serious since Russia's invasion, A2 reports CNN

According to senior US State Department officials, the issue emerged at this week's NATO foreign meeting, attended by foreign ministers from Stockholm and Helsinki.

Officials said discussions underline the extent to which Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion has only served to revive and unite NATO's alliance, precisely the opposite of Putin's stated goals before the start of the war.

The Russian president had demanded that NATO stop expanding to the east and accepting new members, accusing the bloc of threatening Russian security. Instead of that, NATO has increased its support for Ukraine and is preparing to welcome new members. /A2 CNN