Support The Moscow Times!

Sweden Summons Russian Envoy After NATO Bid Warning

Russian Ambassador to Sweden Viktor Tatarintsev. Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Stockholm said on Wednesday that it was summoning the Russian ambassador to Sweden for warning the country would become a "legitimate target" of "retaliatory measures" if it joined NATO.

Sweden and neighbor Finland both ended decades of military non-alignment in May when they decided to join the Western defense alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russian ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev on Tuesday warned Finland and Sweden that by joining the alliance they both risked embroiling themselves in Moscow’s deepening confrontation with the West.

"If anyone still believes that this [NATO membership] in any way will somehow improve Europe's security, you can be sure that the new members of the hostile bloc will become a legitimate target for Russian retaliatory measures, including military ones," he wrote in a statement posted to the embassy’s website.

Tatarintsev said that rather than becoming safer, Sweden would be "taking a step towards the abyss."

"After the accession of Finland and Sweden, the total length of the border between Russia and NATO will almost double," he added.

In response, Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom announced that "the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will summon the Russian ambassador to make a clear statement against this blatant attempt at influence.”

"Sweden's security policy is determined by Sweden — no one else," Billstrom added.

NATO membership requires ratification by all 30 members of the military alliance. After having its bid ratified by Hungary this week, Finland is only waiting on Turkey, which has signaled it will soon give its approval.

Meanwhile, Sweden's bid has run into opposition from Hungary and Turkey after a litany of diplomatic spats.

Stockholm still hopes to join the bloc before the next NATO summit in Vilnius in July.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more