• President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would retaliate like if NATO set up infrastructure 
• “We don’t have the issues with Sweden and Finland that we do with Ukraine.
• Let them join NATO if they so choose “Putin stated on Russian state television

President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would retaliate in like if NATO set up infrastructure and troops in Finland and Sweden following their enlistment in the U.S.-led military alliance.

“We don’t have the issues with Sweden and Finland that we do with Ukraine. Let them join NATO if they so choose “Putin stated on Russian state television following talks with local officials in Turkmenistan, an ex-Soviet state in central Asia.

But they must understand that while there was no threat previously, if military infrastructure and personnel are sent there, we will have to act similarly and pose threats to the regions that pose risks to us.

He asserted that Moscow’s relations with Helsinki and Stockholm will inevitably deteriorate as a result of their NATO membership.

Everything was great between us, but now there may or may not be tensions, he added. “If there is a threat to us, it is inevitable.”

Putin made his remark a day after NATO member Turkey removed its veto over Finland and Sweden’s application to join the alliance following their agreement to defend each other’s security.

The decision allows Helsinki and Stockholm to move forward with their NATO membership applications, signalling the biggest change in European security in decades.

Putin added that the goals of what Moscow refers to as its “special military operation” in Ukraine remained the same, and that they were to “liberate” the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and establish circumstances that would secure Russia’s security.

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