9 minutes agoRussia warns revenge on Finland why NATO membership is to be held
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Russia has said it will be forced to take “revenge steps”, due to the neighbouring state's decision, Finland, to seek NATO membership. In a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, it has been said that this decision would seriously damage bilateral relations, just as security and stability in northern Europe. [...]
In a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, it has been said that this decision would seriously damage bilateral relations, just as security and stability in northern Europe.
Finland's decision there is described as the radical “change in foreign policy of the state”.
“Russia will be forced to take revenge steps, both technical and military, in terms of other natures, in order to counter national security threats coming out of this” decision.
However, Moscow has not specified what plans it has.
Russia's deputy representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polvansky, has said Sweden and Finland could become potential targets for Russia if they become NATO members, the Russian news agency RIA reported.
Finland's President, Saul Niinsto, and the head minister of this state, Sanna Marin, have called for Finland to apply for membership, “without delay”.
The public in Finland has also supported this decision, especially since the launch of the Russian occupation in Ukraine on February 24.
Finland has a 1,300km border with Russia.
So far it has been outside NATO to avoid its eastern neighbour's antagonism.
Finland will announce the official decision Sunday, after this issue is discussed in parliament and by several top state figures.
Sweden has said it will make similar decisions in the coming days.
Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, has said it expects the membership process of Sweden and Finland “to happen quickly”.
The White House has said the United States will support these two states if they apply.
The Finnish president has said Moscow is responsible for the membership decision.
NATO involvement will not be against anyone. You caused this. Look at yourself in the mirror”, he said to reporters, addressing the Russian side.
A poll conducted last week has shown that 76 percent of Finnishs support their country's NATO membership, while 12 percent oppose it.
Finland and the former Soviet Union have been on different sides during World War II.
Finland has lost 10 per cent of its territory in the final peace agreement and has not been involved in the Cold War.
Finland's NATO membership means that Russia's border with the north-Atlantic alliance will rise more than double.
Sweden, meanwhile, has no borders on Russia. /Rel
