Finland and Sweden will become “legitimate targets” of Russian “retaliation” as soon as they become NATO members, the Russian ambassador in Stockholm warned on Tuesday, reigniting the rhetoric of Moscow’s threats.
“After the accession of Finland and Sweden, the total length of the borders between Russia and NATO will almost double,” stressed Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev, in a text published on the website of the Russian mission in Sweden.
“If it still seems to anyone that this will somehow improve the security of Europe, rest assured that the new members of the hostile bloc will become a legitimate target for Russian retaliatory measures, including those of a military nature,” he added. the diplomat, in a long text against the accession of these countries to the Atlantic Alliance.
The alert comes after Moscow has cooled in recent months the threats against the two Nordic capitals, initiated since its historic decision, in May, to apply to NATO.
The candidacies, which turned the page after decades of neutrality, are the direct result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Finland, which borders Russia, is only waiting for the Turkish ratification promised by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the alliance.
As for Sweden, its candidacy has become a tough diplomatic game and is currently facing a veto from Ankara, as well as a delay in ratification by Hungary.
Turkey, in particular, accuses Sweden of being a haven for Kurdish “terrorists” and of refusing extraditions, which, in practice, are decided by the Swedish courts, not by the government.
Another Swedish concern is that Hungary is using the Stockholm approval for NATO membership as a bargaining chip in its battle with the European Union (EU).
Brussels is currently freezing billions of funds earmarked for Budapest, pending reforms so the Hungarian state can better tackle corruption in the country.
However, Stockholm still hopes to join before the next NATO summit in July in Vilnius.
Public opinion shifted dramatically in favor of NATO after the invasion of Ukraine, surpassing 80% support in Finland and approaching two-thirds in Sweden, according to polls.
But for the Russian ambassador in Stockholm, born in Kherson, in present-day Ukraine, Sweden “takes a step into the abyss” by wanting to join NATO.
Criticizing, among other things, a “hasty” decision without a national referendum, the diplomat pointed out the risk that the NATO command “decides to fully enter the conflict.”
“In that case, the Swedes will certainly be lured and sent to their deaths by the interests of others,” Tatarintsev stressed.
Source: TSF
