What Will Russia Do? Zakharova on NATO's Possible Expansion

The choice of security guarantees is the sovereign right of each state. However, security should not be ensured at the expense of the security of other countries.

This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, during a press briefing responding to questions about Russia's stance on Finland and Sweden's declarations regarding NATO membership.

“Our country will take countermeasures, the content of which, including the military-technical component, will largely be determined based on the specific conditions of Finland and Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, including the deployment of foreign military bases and strike systems in their territories,” Zakharova said. She added that there would be fewer words and more concrete actions in response.

Earlier, it became known that Sweden and Finland had officially submitted applications for NATO membership. The applications of the two countries will be discussed by the NATO Council, composed of representatives from the 30 member states of the alliance.