The Lithuanian defense minister immediately received a dry response to Medvedev’s Finnish update.
14.4. 12:28 • Updated April 14th. 12:44
Former President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev On Thursday, it took a position on the possible NATO membership of Finland and Sweden.
Medvedev said in a message published on his Telegram channel that the possible NATO membership of Finland and Sweden would not be of great significance for Russia.
According to Medvedev, however, Russia would take action in the Baltic Sea region if Finland and Sweden joined the military alliance. Medvedev does not specify in his message what kind of actions would be involved.
According to Medvedev, the discussion on a nuclear-weapon-free Baltic Sea would no longer be relevant in this situation. Russia would also strengthen its western border, Medvedev says.
Medvedev’s dissent does not differ from Russia’s previous speeches on NATO projects in Finland and Sweden.
The use of nuclear weapons has risen more frequently since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February.
Lithuania is strange about nuclear weapons command
Lithuanian Minister of Defense Arvydas Anusauskas estimates, after Medvedev ‘s comment, that Russia had already deployed nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad before its attack.
“Russia’s current threats seem rather strange, given that we know that Russia maintains nuclear weapons 100 kilometers from the Lithuanian border,” Anusauskas told Reuters.
NATO talks between Finland and Sweden have also been covered in the Russian media.
In an interview with Vedomosti, Russian experts say that by joining the military alliance, the countries would weaken their own security, says the Russian news agency Tass.
14.4. at 12.44 pm: Corrected eastern boundary to western boundary. The story previously read incorrectly that Russia would strengthen its eastern border.