President Putin gave a televised speech to the Russian people from Turkmenistan last night. He warned that relations between Russia and Finland and Sweden will now deteriorate. – There was no excitement before, but now it is. “If military units and military infrastructure are stationed there, we will be forced to respond symmetrically and must raise our threats to these areas in the same way,” the president said. – We have no problems Putin’s TV speech came the day after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced that Finland and Sweden could now proceed with their NATO membership. This became possible after Turkey also approved this process. A membership that Putin claims he does not mind. – There is nothing that can bother us by Sweden and Finland joining NATO. If Finland and Sweden so wish, they can join NATO. It’s up to them. “They can join whatever they want,” Putin said. The Russian head of state said that the country’s plans towards the two Nordic countries are not the same as above Ukraine. – We have no problems with Sweden and Finland, as we have with Ukraine. We have no territorial disputes. Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO will not lead to a greater threat to Norway, says Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB No greater risk to Norway Even with the threats now coming from Putin against Finland and Sweden, Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram believes that the two countries’ entry into NATO will not lead to a greater security risk for Norway. – This strengthens our security and our ability to defend ourselves. Sweden and Finland are bringing in new defense capabilities, says the Minister of Defense from the NATO summit in Madrid. NATO recently declared that Russia is no longer a partner, but the biggest threat to peace and security. Putin followed up and replied that NATO has imperialist ambitions. Gram tells news today that the threat comes from Russia alone. – The Nordic region is not a threat to anyone. It is Putin’s aggressive actions that cause Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Putin said yesterday that he does not want to see the G7 leaders naked: I do not know how they planned to strip, above or below the waist. I think it would have been a disgusting sight anyway. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP Naked G7 leaders During a press conference on Wednesday, Putin took the time to comment on the G7 leaders’ joke at his expense. He claimed they would look bad naked. – I do not know how they planned to strip, above or below the waist. I think it would have been a disgusting sight anyway. Then he gave advice to the G7 leaders. They should exercise and drink less in order to achieve harmony between body and soul, he said according to the Russian news agency Tass. G7 leaders joked about Putin at the summit. Canada’s Justin Trudeau believed that a problem could be solved with “a ride with a bare torso on horseback”. Photo: ALEXEY DRUZHININ / AFP Before the G7 meeting started this weekend, Britain’s Boris Johnson was overheard, when he asked the others around the table if he should keep his jacket on. Then he said: – We must all show that we can be tougher than Putin. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied that it would be necessary to “ride barefoot on horseback” to make it happen, a reference to Putin’s well-directed photo sessions from previous years in which he has been depicted riding on horseback, barefoot.
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Putin threatens Finland and Sweden – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
