Amid fears of Ukraine’s fate, the Times, citing officials, declared that Russia had made a “fatal strategic mistake” that made Finland and Sweden prepare to join NATO by the summer.
The newspaper quoted US officials as saying that the issue of the two Scandinavian countries’ accession was “the subject of several discussions and sessions” during talks between foreign ministers of NATO member states last week, which were attended by representatives from Sweden and Finland.
Opposite of Putin’s goals
Officials also said the discussions underscore the extent to which the war has only unified NATO, which is the opposite of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated goals before the war began.
The Russian president had demanded that NATO stop expanding eastward and accept new members, accusing the union of threatening Russian security. Instead, NATO increased its support for Ukraine and was preparing to receive new members.
Russia’s military operation in Ukraine prompted a historic change in Finland’s positions on joining NATO, which it has been discussing for weeks.
She gave up her neutrality
Finland remained neutral during the Cold War, in exchange for assurances from Moscow that Soviet forces would not invade its territory.
But it remains one of the few EU countries that has not ended conscription or significantly reduced military spending, despite the end of the Cold War.
Finland, with a population of 5.5 million, joined the European Union and maintains a close partnership with NATO, particularly in the area of intelligence and resource sharing.
