Peskov does not consider the inclusion of Sweden and Finland in NATO a threat to Russia

LONDON, April 7 – RIA Novosti. Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said that he does not consider the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO an existential threat to Russia.

Finland and Sweden started talking about the possibility of abandoning their long-term neutrality and joining NATO against the backdrop of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that the alliance would be glad to see Finland and Sweden in its ranks and provide them with the opportunity to quickly join. NATO expects Sweden and Finland to make their own decisions about possible membership in the coming “months and weeks,” US Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith said earlier. She added that the United States would welcome the accession of these countries to the alliance.

Peskov answered the question whether he considers the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO as an existential threat to Russia, which “may lead to the use of nuclear weapons.”

“What do you mean? Further expansion of NATO? No, I don’t think so,” Peskov said in an interview with Sky News, answering a question. He stated that he does not consider the imposed economic sanctions and the pressure exerted as an existential threat to Russia. “No, we have been living under sanctions for a couple of decades now, and we are already used to this situation. We started preparing for these sanctions a year ago…,” Peskov said.

The decision of the Finnish leadership to join NATO would be a strategic mistake, would make the country a target for Russian retaliatory measures, said Vladimir Dzhabarov, First Deputy Head of the International Committee of the Federation Council, earlier.