Iran Press/ Europe: Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine, which it says aims among other things to degrade Ukraine's military potential and prevent it becoming a bridgehead for a NATO attack, has prompted the two Nordic countries to consider joining the U.S.-led alliance.
If the two countries join, "we'll have to make our western flank more sophisticated in terms of ensuring our security," Dmitry Peskov said.
However, he said Russia would not see such a move as an existential threat, of the kind that might prompt it to consider using nuclear weapons.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing two Russia-backed regions in eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in the Donbas region, as independent criticizing the West for ignoring Moscow's security concerns.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an early morning televised address that he had launched a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request for help from the leaders of the Donbass republics.
The war between Russia and Ukraine still continues.
Prospect of Finland, Sweden joining NATO discussed at NATO meeting
The prospect of Finland and Sweden joining NATO was part of the discussion between foreign ministers from the military alliance in Brussels this week, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Thursday.
"Obviously this is going to be those countries' choices to make," said the official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity.
"The alliance's open door remains open and there was discussion about that potential candidacy," the official said.
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