Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Finland, Sweden joining NATO to provoke Russia reaction: Putin

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 May 2022 17:45
  • 5 Shares
4 Min Read

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia does not feel threatened by Finland and Sweden joining NATO, though his country would respond if such action takes place.

  • x
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a CSTO meeting in Moscow, Russia
    Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a CSTO meeting in Moscow, Russia

Russia has no issue with Finland and Sweden that are willing to join NATO, President Vladimir Putin said Monday, stressing that their accession to the alliance posed no threat to his country. However, he stressed, such action would trigger an appropriate reaction from Moscow.

"Russia... has no problems with these states, and therefore, in this sense, the expansion through these countries does not create any immediate threat for Russia," he told the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in the Russian capital.

However, he underlined, "the expansion of military infrastructure into this territory will certainly provoke our response."

In light of the Western military buildup on Russia's western flank, President Putin revealed that there was a series of joint military exercises of the CSTO planned for autumn.

He revealed that the joint military exercises were planned to be held in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. "I am sure that these events will serve to increase combat readiness and the level of coordination of the military structures of our states and the overall peacekeeping potential of the CSTO," he stressed.

He also underlined that the problem was created completely artificially, as it was done in the foreign policy interests of the United States, noting that NATO had become a "foreign policy instrument of one country."

All the issues that Putin pinpointed "exacerbat[e] an already difficult international security environment," he underlined as tensions escalate as the Nordic states push for accession to NATO and as the war unfolds in Ukraine after it had pushed for joining the alliance.

Related News

Cholera devastates Darfur region amid conflict, US aid cuts

US uses tariffs to strongarm India on Russia ties

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told the CSTO meeting about the repercussions of NATO's expansion bid, stressing that the alliance was "aggressively building up its muscles, yesterday drawing in the neutral Finland and Sweden."

He also expressed his view that Washington had a desire to prolong the conflict in Ukraine as much as possible. "Without the speedy rallying of our countries... there may not be a tomorrow," he added.

The Russian president, during talks with his Finnish counterpart, reiterated that Moscow posed no threat to Finland; therefore, abandoning the traditional policy of military neutrality on Helsinki's end would be a mistake.

President Niinisto, on the other hand, told his Russian counterpart that Moscow's demands aimed at preventing countries from joining NATO, and the war in Ukraine have led to alterations in the security environment in Finland.

Finland, alongside its neighbor to the West, Sweden, is expected to request NATO membership in the coming months - before summer. Their accession, if it were to happen, would redefine European security and would be met with opposition from Russia, which has been very vocal about its opposition to NATO's expansion.

Though Moscow opposes the alliance's expansion, it does not see the accession of Finland and Sweden into the bloc as an existential threat, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov underlined. However, Russia will work on its Western flank to make it more sophisticated in terms of security in the face of NATO creeping in on its northern borders.

The Russian deputy representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, said Thursday the two countries would potentially become targets for the Russian military and force Moscow to take action if they are admitted to NATO.

A joint Finland-Sweden application, to be submitted to NATO ahead of its Madrid summit on June 29, is supported by advocates of NATO membership. This would give NATO time to respond with an invitation to join.

  • United States
  • CSTO
  • Nato
  • Finland
  • Russia
  • Alexander Lukashenko
  • Tajikistan
  • Sweden
  • Ukraine
  • Belarus
  • Vladimir Putin
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Kazakhstan
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS