What did Putin say when Finland and Sweden joined NATO?
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would not mind if Finland and Sweden joined NATO, but warned Moscow would react to any "threats".
"We have nothing to worry about Finland and Sweden joining NATO. If they want to join, they are welcome. But we also clearly state that, while there was no threat before, now, if military forces and infrastructure are deployed here, we will react accordingly and create threats in these territories, similar to the threats they pose to us," President Putin said at a press conference after the Summit in Turkmenistan on June 29.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters |
Sweden and Finland are ending decades of neutrality and joining NATO - a move described as a "historic step".
The last major obstacle to the two countries joining the alliance was removed after Türkiye dropped its objections to Finland and Sweden becoming NATO members on June 28.
The move took place after the NATO Summit in Madrid, which became one of the most important and most productive meetings in the history of the alliance./.