World News: Putin sees no threats as Sweden and Finland prepare to join Nato – Gulf Digital News

World News: Putin sees no threats as Sweden and Finland prepare to join Nato – Gulf Digital News

STOCKHOLM: Vladimir Putin appeared to climb down yesterday from Russia’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining Nato, saying Moscow had no issues with them entering the US-led military alliance they now aim to join in reaction to his invasion of Ukraine.

Though the Russian leader said Moscow would take action if Nato were to move more troops or hardware onto the territory of its new members – steps Finland and Sweden have both already ruled out – he said Nato’s expansion itself was not a threat.

“As far as expansion goes, including new members Finland and Sweden, Russia has no problems with these states – none. And so in this sense there is no immediate threat to Russia from an expansion to include these countries,” Putin said.

The comments appeared to mark a major shift in rhetoric. For decades, Moscow has cast Nato enlargement as a direct threat to Russia’s security, including citing it as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine itself.

Just hours before Putin spoke, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Finland and Sweden were making a mistake that would have far-reaching consequences: “They should have no illusions that we will simply put up with it.”

Putin’s own spokesman Dmitry Peskov,