Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a mass media interview on March 13 that he would deploy troops and offensive weapons near the borders with Finland and Sweden as the two countries joined NATO.
The countries’ decision on joining NATO was purely based on political judgment, he said, adding that they were eager to become member states of NATO to be under a sort of “umbrella”.
This is a completely reckless measure in view of guaranteeing the national interests of the two countries, he said.
Sweden became the 32nd full member state of NATO on March 7 and Finland joined it last year.