According to the country's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, this Tuesday (5) Russia reinforced its troops in the northern and western regions in retaliation for what the country described as an increase in the forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) near the Russian one Territory classified. This movement represents a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
NATO expansion
The invasion of Ukraine led to Finland joining NATO and Sweden is also preparing to join the alliance. This week, NATO is also conducting a military exercise, Nordic Response 2024. The exercise involves more than 20,000 troops in Norway, Finland and Sweden and focuses on collective defense.
Consequences of the war in Ukraine
“In connection with the increase in NATO's military potential near the Russian borders and the expansion of the alliance with the accession of Finland and, in the future, Sweden, we have taken measures to strengthen the groupings of troops in the strategic directions of the NorthWest and West,” he said. Shoigu.
The war in Ukraine has triggered the biggest crisis in Russia's relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West that sending Western troops to Ukraine could trigger a nuclear war.