Member of the Russian state Duma Leonid Slutsky said that while the Sweden and Finland's choice to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance is their choice, it will have consequences on their relationship with Russia, and on the "general security architecture in Europe" which is already in "deep crisis".
Russian state news agency TASS also claims that Turkey lifted its veto on the Nordic countries joining the alliance after a weapon sale ban on Turkey was lifted. Just one day after Turkey withdrew its opposition, the United States Backed the Sale of F-16 jets to Turkey.
Slutsky wrote on his Telegram channel Wednesday that "The accession of Finland and Sweden, in fact, to the front line of the alliance and the rejection of [their] non-aligned status will be the choice of these countries. However, they should clearly understand the consequences such a step would have on their relations with Russia and on the general security architecture in Europe, which is already in deep crisis".
He also claimed that since the Soviet Union collapsed, the "US-led military bloc [NATO]" has consistently sought to 'move close to Russia's borders" and said that NATO's "mantras" about its "defensive nature" are merely a smokescreen.
"For Russia, NATO's eastward expansion began not with the alliance inviting Sweden and Finland to get on board, but by breaking promises once made to the first president of the Soviet Union. Since then, we have already seen several waves of this kind, which time after time has triggered new concerns on ensuring the security and national interests of our country" he stated.
Yes, and if I were Turkey, I would not be too flattered about the assurances I received in exchange for not vetoing the Finns’ and Swedes’ accession to NATO. Gorbachev was also once promised something" he added.
Russian state news agency TASS pointed to Turkey's block on the two Nordic countries from joining the NATO alliance, and claimed that the reason the block was lifted was that in exchange for Turkey to lift its veto, "a ban on the sale of weapons to Ankara was lifted, and the parties vowed to fight terrorism".
The Russian state news agency also said that "Erdogan's office told TASS that Turkey considered the signed document as a result achieved by Sweden and Finland, which will allow them to join the alliance".
Russian state news agency TASS also claims that Turkey lifted its veto on the Nordic countries joining the alliance after a weapon sale ban on Turkey was lifted. Just one day after Turkey withdrew its opposition, the United States Backed the Sale of F-16 jets to Turkey.
Slutsky wrote on his Telegram channel Wednesday that "The accession of Finland and Sweden, in fact, to the front line of the alliance and the rejection of [their] non-aligned status will be the choice of these countries. However, they should clearly understand the consequences such a step would have on their relations with Russia and on the general security architecture in Europe, which is already in deep crisis".
He also claimed that since the Soviet Union collapsed, the "US-led military bloc [NATO]" has consistently sought to 'move close to Russia's borders" and said that NATO's "mantras" about its "defensive nature" are merely a smokescreen.
"For Russia, NATO's eastward expansion began not with the alliance inviting Sweden and Finland to get on board, but by breaking promises once made to the first president of the Soviet Union. Since then, we have already seen several waves of this kind, which time after time has triggered new concerns on ensuring the security and national interests of our country" he stated.
Yes, and if I were Turkey, I would not be too flattered about the assurances I received in exchange for not vetoing the Finns’ and Swedes’ accession to NATO. Gorbachev was also once promised something" he added.
Russian state news agency TASS pointed to Turkey's block on the two Nordic countries from joining the NATO alliance, and claimed that the reason the block was lifted was that in exchange for Turkey to lift its veto, "a ban on the sale of weapons to Ankara was lifted, and the parties vowed to fight terrorism".
The Russian state news agency also said that "Erdogan's office told TASS that Turkey considered the signed document as a result achieved by Sweden and Finland, which will allow them to join the alliance".