Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned once morest NATO expansion, saying it will not help European stability
Russia has warned Finland and Sweden once morest joining NATO, saying the move would not bring stability to Europe.
“The alliance remains an instrument aimed at confrontation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
It comes at a time when US defense officials have said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was a “fatal strategic mistake” that is likely to lead to NATO expansion.
US officials expect the Nordic neighbors to apply for NATO membership, likely in June.
It is believed that Washington supports the move, which will see the number of NATO members increased to 32. US State Department officials said last week that discussions had taken place between NATO leaders and the foreign ministers of Helsinki and Stockholm.
Before beginning its invasion of Ukraine, Russia demanded that the alliance agree to halt any future expansion, but the war led to more NATO forces being deployed on its eastern flank and an increase in popular support for Swedish and Finnish membership.
Finnish parliamentarians are expected to receive a security report from intelligence officials this week, and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said she expected her government to “finish the discussion before midsummer” on applying for membership.
Finland shares a 1,340 km border with Russia and has been upset by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
NATO intensified its military presence in Eastern Europe.
But Moscow has been clear that it opposes any possible expansion of the alliance. Peskov warned that the bloc “is not of this kind of alliance that guarantees peace and stability and that its further expansion will not bring additional security to the European continent.”
Peskov said last week that Russia should “rebalance” through its own measures if Sweden and Finland join NATO.
In February, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned of “military and political consequences” if the two countries joined the alliance.
Despite the threats, both countries pushed their offers and increased their defense spending.
On Monday, Helsinki’s military chiefs announced a new plan to allocate €14 million to purchase drones for the Finnish army.
Last month, Swedish officials said they would boost defense spending by 3 billion kroner, or $317 million, in 2022.
