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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Finland's NATO membership "definitely" a threat

2022-05-12T10:37:02.198Z


Kremlin spokesman Peskov has criticized the Finnish government's declaration for joining NATO. The step is a threat to Russia and will not make Europe more stable.


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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Photo: SERGEI KARPUKHIN/ REUTERS

The Kremlin expressed irritation after the Finnish government's announcement that it would support the Nordic country's rapid admission to NATO.

According to the assessment of the leadership in Moscow, Finland's accession to NATO would "clearly" pose a threat to Russia.

As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained, an expansion of the military alliance and a NATO rapprochement with the Russian borders "would not make the world and our continent more stable and more secure".

When asked whether Russia would see Finland's NATO membership as a threat, the Kremlin spokesman answered "definitely."

He is a reason for a "symmetrical answer".

Russia will analyze the consequences of Finland joining NATO with a view to its own security, said Peskov.

Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin has already instructed to strengthen the security of Russia's western flank with a view to NATO activities.

"NATO is moving in our direction," said Peskow.

Everything now depends on how the further process of NATO expansion develops and what military infrastructure is transferred to Russia's borders, he said.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin had previously spoken out in favor of their country joining NATO immediately.

It is now expected that Finland will formally decide to apply for membership in the coming days.

Zelenskyj and Stoltenberg welcome Finland's decision

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Helsinki's announcement in a telephone conversation with the Finnish President: "We also talked about Ukraine's European integration," he wrote on Twitter.

Accordingly, the two presidents also talked about a “defense interaction”.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also commented on the statement by the Finnish government.

"The accession process would run smoothly and quickly," said the Norwegian on Thursday.

NATO would give Finland a "warm welcome," he said.

col/Reuters/AFP/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-05-12

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