Putin warns Sweden, Finland

Kyiv – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Finland and Sweden yesterday to expect a “response” for applying to join Nato as Ukraine braced for a new push by Moscow’s forces in its Donbas region.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson yesterday confirmed her country would apply to join the military alliance, the day after Finland – which shares a 1 300km border with Russia – said the same.

The two Nordic countries are poised to give up decades of military non-alignment over fears they could be next in line following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The move poses “no direct threat for us... but the expansion of military infrastructure to these territories will certainly provoke our response”, Putin told a meeting of a Moscow-led security alliance.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had earlier called it a “grave mistake with far-reaching consequences”. Russia has already suspended electricity supplies to Finland, citing payment issues. But Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told lawmakers: “Our security environment has fundamentally changed. The only country that threatens European security, and is now openly waging a war of aggression, is Russia.”

Despite the resources of its giant neighbour, Ukraine has managed to repel Russian forces for longer than many initially expected, fortified by weapons and cash from Kyiv’s Western allies.

Nato on Sunday promised open-ended support, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saying the alliance would provide military assistance “for as long as Ukraine needs”.

Ukraine’s defence ministry announced its troops had regained control of territory on the Russian border near Kharkiv, which has been under constant attack.