Finland and Sweden could join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) by summer in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Opinion polls show Fins are particularly keen to join the military alliance, with 60 percent of the population being pro NATO in the wake of Russia’s war on Ukraine, as opposed to just 30 percent in October.
However Russia has warned both countries against joining NATO, claiming the move ‘would not bring stability to Europe’.
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Finland shares a 830 mile-long border with Russia and in 1939 was invaded by the Soviet Union.
The BBC reports that a bid for NATO membership by Finland and Sweden is expected as early as June, with Washington said to be supportive of the move.
Last week, the US State Department confirmed discussions had happened between NATO and ministers from both Helsinki and Stockholm.
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A security report from intelligence officials is expected by Finnish MPs this week and Prime Minister Sanna Marin expects her government will ‘end the discussion about membership before midsummer’.
Magdalena Andersson, prime minister of Sweden, recently refused to rule out a NATO application and the country is reviewing its security.
However, Russia has warned ‘NATO remains a tool geared towards confrontation’.
Speaking last week, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “It’s not that kind of alliance which ensures peace and stability, and its further expansion will not bring additional security to the European continent.”
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He added that Russia would be forced to ‘rebalance the situation with its own measures’ if Finland and Sweden joined the alliance.
It comes after Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson issued stern words of warning in February, saying there would be ‘military and political consequences’ if its Nordic neighbours joined NATO.
Last month, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit out at NATO for its 4 March decision not to impose a no-fly zone in his country’s skies.
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NATO warned such a move could provoke Russia’s aggression towards the organisation, a decision Zelenskyy warned was a ‘green light for Russia to continue its attack’.
He said: "All the people who will die starting from this day will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disunity."
Zelenskyy also took to Twitter at the time to argue for the implementation of a no-fly zone, writing: “Nuclear terrorism requires decisive action in response. At the #UN Security Council meeting, we called for closing the sky over [Ukraine] and launching an operation to maintain peace and security.
“The goal is to save hazardous facilities. The world must not watch, but help!”
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If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Aisha Nozari