Russia announced the deployment of more soldiers in response to the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO

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Russia Deploys Troops in Response to Sweden and Finland Joining NATO

In a strong response to the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, Russia announced on Saturday that it will deploy more military assets on its territory to counter the perceived threat. The move comes after the Hungarian Parliament ratified Sweden’s entry into the bloc, marking the final obstacle in the process.

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, made the announcement during the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkey, stating that forces will be deployed to address security challenges arising from the territories of Finland and Sweden. He expressed regret over the countries’ decision to join NATO, citing the trade of decades of good neighborliness and neutrality for membership in the Alliance.

Following the Hungarian Parliament’s approval of Sweden’s entry into NATO, Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, hailed the decision as “historic.” However, Russia issued a strong warning to the entire bloc, stating that it will closely monitor Sweden’s actions within the military alliance and respond with retaliatory measures if necessary.

Both Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in 2022, amid Russia’s offensive on Ukraine. Finland received approval from all 30 NATO members on April 4, while Sweden faced obstacles from Turkey and Hungary over various commitments. After meeting certain requirements, Hungary ultimately approved Sweden’s accession.

In addition to addressing the NATO expansions, Lavrov also spoke about the ongoing war in Ukraine, accusing the West of having a “warlike” attitude towards kyiv. He emphasized the importance of negotiating with Ukraine while recognizing Russia’s legitimate interests in the region.

The latest developments highlight the growing tensions between Russia and NATO as the military alliance expands its membership in response to security threats in the region.