As Finland readies to join Nato, Moscow vows to boost defences at joint border if bloc deploys troops in newest member

Name: Russia is ‘launching new offensives’ in Ukraine, says Nato chief
Uploaded: 2023-04-03T13:11:41.000Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
Description: Russia is ‘launching new offensives’ in Ukraine, says Nato chief

Moscow would respond to Finland becoming Nato’s member by bolstering its defences if needed and ‘take addition steps to ensure Russia’s military security’

Finland and Sweden abandoned their traditional positions of military non-alignment after Russia invaded Ukraine, to seek protection under Nato

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A vacuum cleaner truck cleans the square where an empty flag pole stands between flags of Nato members waiting for the raising ceremony for Finland’s accession to the bloc, outside the Nato headquarters in Brussels. Photo: EPA-EFE

Associated Press

Published: 9:11pm, 3 Apr 2023

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Finland will become the 31st member of the world’s biggest military alliance on Tuesday, prompting a warning from Russia that it would bolster its defences near their joint border if Nato deploys any troops in its new member.

“This is a historic week,” Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. “From tomorrow, Finland will be a full member of the alliance.” He said that he hopes Sweden will be able to join Nato in coming months.

The former Norwegian prime minister said that on Tuesday afternoon, “we will raise the Finnish flag for the first time here at the Nato headquarters. It will be a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security, and for Nato as a whole”.

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Russia is ‘launching new offensives’ in Ukraine, says Nato chief

Stoltenberg said that Turkey, the last country to have ratified Finland’s membership, will hand its official texts to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. Stoltenberg said he would then invite Finland to do the same.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen will attend the ceremony, along with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.

“It is a historic moment for us. For Finland, the most important objective at the meeting will be to emphasise Nato’s support to Ukraine as Russia continues its illegal aggression,” Haavisto said in a statement. “We seek to promote stability and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic region.”

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that Moscow would respond to Finland becoming Nato’s member by bolstering its defences if needed.

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