“Today, the Swedish Social Democratic Party took a historic decision to say yes to applying for membership in the NATO defense alliance,” Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Ann Linde said.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine has deteriorated Sweden’s and Europe’s security situation.”

“The party board has decided at its meeting on May 15, 2022, that the party will work toward Sweden applying for membership in NATO,” the Social Democrats, Sweden’s ruling party, said in a statement.

This announcement came just hours after Finland declared its decision to join the alliance.

In response to Finland’s decision to pursue NATO membership, Putin called it a “mistake.”

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