Russia threatens "military consequences" if Finland or Sweden join NATO

The Kremlin issued a stark warning on Friday, threatening “military and political consequences” against Finland and Sweden if the northern European countries attempt to join NATO.

In a press conference, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned other European powers against joining the Western military alliance, The Hill reported.

“Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,” Zakharova said.

The ministry later tweeted the same threat from its official Twitter account, writing, “We regard the Finnish government’s commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe.”

“Finland’s accession to NATO would have serious military and political repercussions,” the tweet further read.  

Both Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö have condemned the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and provided Zelensky’s government with military, technical and humanitarian assistance.

Shortly after Putin announced that Russian forces had entered Ukraine, the Twitter pages of both the Swedish and Finnish leaders released statements condemning the Kremlin’s bellicose intervention.

"I strongly condemn the military measures Russia has started in Ukraine," Niinistö wrote in a tweet on Thursday."Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order.”

I strongly condemn the military measures Russia has started in Ukraine. Russia's acts target Ukraine, but at the same time they are an attack on the entire European security order. We feel deep compassion towards Ukraine and are seeking ways to increase our support to Ukraine.

— Sauli Niinistö (@niinisto) February 24, 2022

Similarly, Andersson condemned Putin’s illegal invasion and called on Europe to respond forcefully.

“Sweden condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine,” the PM wrote.

“Russia’s acts are also an attack on the European security order. It will be met by a united and robust response in solidarity with Ukraine. Russia alone is responsible for human suffering.

Sweden condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s acts are also an attack on the European security order. It will be met by a united and robust response in solidarity with Ukraine. Russia alone is responsible for human suffering.

— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) February 24, 2022

But as fighting continues to rage on the second day since Moscow ordered the invasion of its southern neighbor, diplomatic delegations from Russia and Ukraine are expected to meet in Belarus to discuss Ukraine potentially joining NATO with a non-aligned status – a proposal Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described as “a move in a positive direction.”

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blasted Kyiv’s concession, however, charging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with “simply lying” about his government’s willingness to consider neutrality and stating his government would only negotiate after it “restored order.”