Russian President Putin warns about Finland being “dragged into NATO”

Photo: Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik/Reuters.

Finland's entry into NATO marked a major turning point in the security landscape of northern Europe, adding 1,300km to the frontline between the organization and Russia.

It is also a blow to Mr Putin, who has long warned against NATO's expansionism.

“They (the West) dragged Finland into NATO! Why? We have no grudges against Finland. All grudges, including those on the territorial side of the country in the mid-20th century, were settled long ago,” Putin said in an interview on Monday.

“There were no problems (between Russia and Finland) but now there will be, because we will set up the Leningrad military front there and concentrate military units there.”

Mr. Putin also assessed the statements of US President Joe Biden with the content of affirming that Mr. Putin will "continue to attack" after winning Ukraine and implying that Russia will attack NATO allies to drag the US into the conflict that Mr. Biden made in early December as "complete nonsense".

The Russian President affirmed that Russia “has no reason, no desire, no geopolitical need, economic, political or military, to wage war with NATO countries”. He also said that Moscow has no territorial claims against NATO countries.

Mr. Putin affirmed: "We have absolutely no desire to damage relations with them (NATO countries), we only have the desire to build countries."

Border dispute

Finland joined NATO last April, becoming the organization's 31st member, doubling the security alliance's direct frontline with Russia.

Even before Mr Putin launched his special operation in Ukraine, he had been calling for NATO to limit its expansion. But Finnish President Sauli Niinistö announced in May 2022 that his country wanted to join the alliance, saying that the war in Ukraine had “changed the security landscape in Finland” and that it was the country’s desire to join NATO.

Just months after joining NATO, the Finnish government announced it would invest $143 million to build fences along the 830-mile border between Finland and Russia, a border that had previously had very limited security measures.

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/AFP/Getty Images.

This week, Finland has again closed its entire border with Russia, after hundreds of people were reported to have attempted to enter without visas.

After another border closure was announced last month, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Russia of “using and manipulating people to push them to the Finnish border in extreme weather conditions. Finland is determined to stop this phenomenon.”

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/tong-thong-nga-putin-canh-bao-ve-van-de-phan-lan-bi-loi-keo-vao-nato-a641164.html