Russia has issued a chilling warning to its neighbors Sweden and Finland, saying both nations would face “military consequences” if they join NATO.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said such a move would have “serious military-political consequences” after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Finland and Sweden must not base their security on harming the security of other countries, and their accession to NATO could have disastrous consequences and face some military and political consequences,” Zakharova told a briefing.
The foreign ministry later repeated the threat on Twitter.
“We consider the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in Northern Europe,” the ministry said. “Finland’s accession to @NATO would have serious military and political consequences.”
Sweden and Finland border Russia in the Arctic Circle. It is widely believed that Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine after Western countries discussed the idea of joining NATO over fears that it could end in a US military presence on the doorstep.
Such a move by Sweden or Finland could potentially provoke such anger.
US intelligence officials are worried about the Ukrainian the capital of Kiev may fall until Saturday afternoon CNN reports that Russian troops enter the city in the early hours of Saturday morning local time.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, pictured, threatens Finland and Sweden with “military consequences” on Friday if one of the countries joins NATO
President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of the Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin
Scenes of explosions in Ukraine on Thursday night
President Joe Biden will meet virtually with other NATO members on Friday morning to reassure the Eastern Allies that they will be protected.
Russia has a significant border with Finland and a much smaller but geopolitically important point with Sweden
Ukrainian leaders want to join NATO, but Russia is strongly opposed to the move.
Both NATO and President Joe Biden have said the United States will strongly defend the 30-nation alliance if the Kremlin launches an attack.
Biden met virtually with a colleague NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies that they will be protected as Russian troops prepare to enter Kiev.
Amid reports that the Kremlin is firing on him, Green he had criticized the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.
“Who is ready to fight with us?” “I don’t see anyone,” he said Thursday night. “Who is ready to guarantee Ukraine membership in NATO? Everyone is afraid.”
“We are defending our country on our own. “The world’s most powerful forces are watching this from a distance,” Zelenski said.
After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-member organization would send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a rapidly deploying front unit to the alliance’s eastern flank. This is the first time force has been used to protect NATO allies.
“We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in the context of collective defense. We are talking about thousands of soldiers. We are talking about air and sea capabilities, “Stoltenberg said.
The Ukrainian National Guard formed in the streets of Kiev on Friday as it prepared to defend the city from Russian attack shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard.
A brave Ukrainian citizen was filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tiger-M combat vehicles – similar to American Humvees – from moving on a highway near Crimea in scenes reminiscent of the “tanker” in Tiananmen Square.
Russia’s plans to capture Kiev and forcibly end the war in Ukraine have been uncovered by US intelligence, which says troops and armor will be used to capture airports before a force of 10,000 paratroopers is sent to capture the city. government and force them to sign a peace agreement to regain control of Russia’s country
President Joe Biden (top left) attends the NATO summit
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for virtual summit
General view of a meeting room during a virtual summit convened by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after Russia launches a large-scale military operation against Ukraine in Brussels, Belgium
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has offered to send a delegation to Belarus to negotiate with Ukraine, but only under difficult conditions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready to send a delegation to Minsk. But Peskov made it clear that Russia expects “denazification and demilitarization” of Ukraine from Ukraine, which means the capitulation of Kiev.
Some NATO countries are already taking defensive measures as Russian aggression grows.
Lithuania declared a state of emergency on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed troops to Ukraine. Lithuania borders the Kaliningrad region of Russia to the southwest. NATO members Belarus is to the east, Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south.
“We cannot accept the luxury of being a discussion club,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said last night at an extraordinary summit of European Union leaders to impose a “high price” on Russia through sanctions. We need to take action.
The Baltic members said that the West “urgently needs to provide the Ukrainian people with weapons, ammunition and all other military support to protect themselves, as well as economic, financial and political assistance and support, humanitarian aid.”
NATO began strengthening its defenses in Northeast Europe after Russia annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Recently, some members also sent troops, planes and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
In the short term, NATO is activating an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. The Pentagon said Thursday it was sending 7,000 troops to Europe in addition to 5,000 recently deployed.
Independence Square in the center of Kiev, Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers occupy positions in the center of Kiev
Soldiers of the Ukrainian National Guard occupy positions in the center of Kiev