Russia’s Lavrov says Finland, Sweden joining Nato makes ‘no big difference’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Moscow, Russia April 8, 2022. Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Finland and Sweden joining Nato would probably make “not much difference” as the two countries had long participated in the alliance’s military drills.
“Finland and Sweden, as well as other neutral countries, have been participating in Nato military exercises for many years,” Lavrov said.
“Nato takes their territory into account when planning military advances to the East. So in this sense there is probably not much difference. Let’s see how their territory is used in practice in the North Atlantic alliance.”
RELATED STORIES
‘Dancing, not war’: Signs of normality in Ukraine’s shattered Kharkiv
Ukraine says troops defending Kharkiv have reached Russian border
Shell-shocked families refuse evacuation from Ukraine front
Food charity production line caters for displaced in Ukraine’s Dnipro
Russia says it shot down three Ukraine fighter jets, one near Snake Island
