Russia warns Sweden, Finland

Moscow – Russia warned yesterday that decisions by Finland and Sweden to join the Nato military alliance were serious mistakes and Moscow would take measures.

“This is another grave mistake with far-reaching consequences,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. “The general level of military tensions will increase,” he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

“It is a pity that common sense is being sacrificed for some phantom ideas about what should be done in the current situation.”

Ryabkov said the two countries’ security would not strengthen as a result of the move and that Moscow would take measures. “They should have no illusions that we will just put up with this,” he said.

Finland and Sweden are poised to jettison decades of military nonalignment to join Nato as a defence against feared aggression from Russia.

Moscow has warned Finland, with which it shares a 1 300km border, that it would take “reciprocal steps”. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday about the country’s application for Nato membership.

The Kremlin said Putin viewed any end to Finland’s military neutrality as a “mistake”. Finland announced its intention to join Nato on Sunday as Sweden’s ruling party said it backed membership, paving the way for a joint application.

Ukraine was preparing for a new Russian push in the Donbas region, as Kyiv said its army’s counterattack around Kharkiv had gained momentum. Control of Donbas has become one of Moscow’s primary objectives, but Western intelligence predicted it will stall amid fierce resistance. –