[Epoch Times, February 27, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Zhang Ting comprehensive report) U.S. President Biden said on Friday (February 25) that the comments of the always neutral Finland and Sweden about possible NATO membership showed that Russia How misjudged President Putin was about the invasion of Ukraine.
Biden told social media influencer Brian Tyler Cohen in a taped interview Friday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “has not only made NATO more united, look at what’s going on in Finland, look at what’s going on in Sweden, look at what’s going on in Sweden. Other countries. I mean he’s having the exact opposite effect of what he wants.”
“What I do know is that we have to align with our other allies,” Biden said.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also issued a warning to Finland and Sweden, threatening them not to join NATO. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that if Finland and Sweden joined, they would “face some military and political consequences”.
In response to the threat, Finland’s ambassador to the United States, Mikko Hautala, said Finland had a strong military and said he saw no “immediate threat” after Zakharova’s warning.
“We’re not going to be intimidated by a statement,” Houtara told Fox News. “We have one of the best militaries in Europe.”
“We have a strong defense,” he added. “We have very good international partners.”
Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine on Thursday (February 24) by sea, land and air. A major factor in the war was Ukraine’s consideration of joining NATO.
Houtara said Russia has been threatening Finland over NATO for years.
“They keep saying that if Finland joins, they will do something,” Houtara said.
“We don’t see any immediate imminent threat,” Houtara added, although he acknowledged that Finland had to “take it seriously” because of the conflict in Ukraine.
Houtara also predicted that the Russian invasion would not spread to other European countries.
Finland is one of many countries condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said: “This attack is a serious violation of international law and threatens the lives of many civilians. Finland expresses its strong support for Ukraine and the Ukrainians, and we are looking for ways to increase that support.” Lin wrote.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has reignited a debate in Finland over whether the country should join NATO. Marin said Finland was ready to apply for NATO membership if it was a matter of national security.
“Finland is ready to apply for NATO membership if national security concerns become urgent,” Marin told a parliamentary meeting.
The broad Russian attack on Ukraine on Thursday will also affect Finland, said MPs Jouni Ovaska and Satu Hassi, members of the Finnish parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“Putin got the exact opposite of what he was looking for – in Ukraine, the national spirit was strengthened; in Finland and Sweden, support for joining NATO increased,” Hassi said.
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#