Russia threatened its neighboring Arctic neighbors, Sweden and Finland, with military ramifications if they join NATO, according to media reports.
It happened as Russia’s assault of Ukraine intensified today, particularly in the Ukrainian city of Kyiv.
Sweden and Finland are indeed the two countries in the Arctic Circle that are closest to Russia in terms of distance.
Putin’s Russia is now threatening Finland and Sweden.
Appeasement never works.
— Chris Hahn (@ChristopherHahn) February 25, 2022
Warning Later Re-issued on Twitter
In a written statement, the Department of Defense stated, “the Finnish government’s approach to a militarily non-alignment policy is a vital aspect in maintaining peace and protection in northern Europe.”
‘Finland’s entrance to NATO would have significant military and political ramifications,’ says the author.
Vladimir Putin is widely considered to have launched an attack on Ukraine after western nations raised the possibility of the country joining NATO. A similar decision by Sweden or Finland may potentially elicit the same level of criticism.
According to CNN, U.S. intelligence officials are concerned the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv could be overrun by Saturday afternoon, following the entry of Russian forces into the city.
Ukraine’s authorities have expressed a desire to join NATO. Russia, however, expressed strong opposition to the proposal. The Kremlin, on the other hand, agreed to send a team to Belarus in order to talk with Ukraine, but only under extremely difficult terms.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, stated Russia was prepared to send a group to Minsk. Peskov, on the other hand, made it apparent Russia expected Ukraine to complete its ‘denazification and demilitarization,’ which he interpreted as a submission by Kyiv.
As Russian aggression intensifies, some NATO countries have already begun to take defensive steps. After Putin ordered soldiers into Ukraine on Thursday, Lithuania proclaimed a state of emergency.
Lithuania shares a border with Russia’s Kaliningrad area on the southwest side of the country. Belarus is to the east. Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south of the country, which are all NATO members.
I say to my European friends, we cannot stand by as war crimes are committed in Ukraine and not use every single economic tool available to us. We must suspend Russia from SWIFT. Today. If we are spineless we will find Putin knocking on the door in Finland Sweden and the Baltic’s
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) February 25, 2022
EU Emergency Conference
During an emergency conference, European Union leaders organized to inflict a “high price” on Russia through sanctions.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda remarked, “We cannot afford to remain a debate club.” Nauseda was speaking at the time of the emergency summit.
Immediately after Russia acquired Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, NATO began beefing up its defenses throughout northeastern Europe.
Recently, several members have also dispatched various weaponry and different systems of support to the Black Sea region.
NATO and President Biden both stated the United States will vigorously defend the 30-member coalition if the Kremlin launches an attack on the alliance.
Friday morning, Biden held a virtual meeting with fellow NATO members to reassure Eastern partners they will be safe as Russian forces prepare to enter Kyiv.
