Russian President Vladimir Putin

Finland and Sweden's decisions to join the military alliance may increase the chance of confrontation, Russia says.

It is a shame that common sense is being sacrificed to some phantom provision about what should be done in this unfolding situation,” Ryabkov said. Russia has given few clues about what it will do in response to the Nordic enlargement of NATO, saying merely there would be a “military-technical response”. Decisions by Finland and Sweden to join the Western military alliance threaten to increase the chance of armed confrontation, Russian official says.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said Monday her country will apply to join NATO, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned there will ...

Putin said Monday he has “no problem” with Finland and Sweden and that the two joining NATO doesn’t pose a “direct threat” to Russia, the New York Times reported. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said in a joint press conference with Niinisto Monday he believes Congress will ratify Finland’s application before the legislature goes on its August recess. How quickly the U.S. ratifies Finland and Sweden’s NATO applications.

LONDON — Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Monday (May 16) that Russia would respond if Nato began to bolster the military infrastructure ...

Kyiv and its Western backers say the claim of persecution of Russian speakers has been exaggerated by Moscow into a pretext for an unprovoked war against a sovereign state. Finland gained independence from Russia in 1917 and fought two wars against it during World War Two during which it lost territory. Advertisement Advertisement We shall react accordingly." Advertisement

STOCKHOLM: Sweden on Monday (May 15) officially announced it will apply for NATO membership as a deterrent against Russian aggression, entering a "new era" ...

It was then invaded by the Soviet Union in 1939. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

Putin debuted another massive table while meeting with members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. According to Russian state media, the table ...

It could also be an attempt to appear intimidating or to show guests his power in Russia, The Guardian reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin has a new long table — but this one is round. - Putin has distanced himself while meeting with other world leaders at a different, impractically long table.

What kind [of response] it will be, we will decide depending on threats that are created against us,” Putin warned.

The CIS alliance includes all CSTO member states as well as Azerbaijan, Moldova and Uzbekistan. Leaders of fellow CSTO members Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan gathered in Moscow for Monday’s summit, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Russia-led military alliance’s founding. Sweden and Finland’s anticipated bid for NATO membership “doesn’t pose a threat” to Russia but may “trigger a response,” President Vladimir Putin said at a summit of former Soviet allies on Monday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Finland and Sweden's bids to join NATO posed no direct threat to Russia, but warned the Western military alliance ...

“Therefore, in this sense, expansion on account of these countries does not pose a direct threat to Russia.” Ending more than half a century of military neutrality, Finland said on Sunday that it would apply to join NATO in the face of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. “This is a historic day — a new era begins,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said. But Putin warned there would be consequences if the military alliance moved weapons into the territory of the two countries.

On Victory Day — the May 9 commemoration of the former Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War — Russian President Vladimir Putin was ...

Putin has managed to set the terms of engagement, for example, by telling the West not to intervene at the very start of his invasion, and NATO has stayed out. In those remarks, he seems to have been purposely doing the opposite of what western media expected because his aim is unpredictability, a common war-time tactic. For this reason, Macron may believe that Putin wants to negotiate a way out the war after so much embarrassment, exhaustion and failure. By having conversations with the EU’s president, Putin has greater potential for exerting some influence in that realm — and more time to continue his Ukrainian invasion. An example is the misplaced Ukrainian belief that the country could rely on NATO for defence because Ukraine was a potential future member that gave up nuclear weapons. For example, one well-known fact is that Macron and Putin have a unique relationship. Putin’s war has dragged on for longer than he expected, according to western intelligence. But it’s undeniable that brave, resilient Ukrainians refuse to surrender regardless of Russian efforts. Macron initiates most meetings and calls with Putin, but Putin is an ex-KGB agent who knows not to give anything away. However, Putin didn’t mention escalating the war in his speech. For example, the friendly North Atlantic Treaty negotiations of 1948-49 were well-documented but not made public until much later. Previously, we only knew of isolated cases of backroom bargaining after the details had been revealed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said his country Russia “does not have problems” if Finland and Sweden become members of the US-led military alliance ...

Elisabeth Borne was appointed France's new prime minister on Monday to become the second woman to hold the post in the country. Appointed prime minister on Thursday, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said in an address to the nation the country urgently needed $75 million in foreign exchange to pay for essential imports. It was followed by Prime Minister Andersson's announcement earlier in the day, thus, making Sweden's intent to seek NATO membership official. At least 10 civilians were killed by Russian shelling of the city of Sievierodonetsk in eastern Ukraine on Monday, regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said. His statement comes hours after Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said her country will inform NATO about its intent to officially enter the military alliance, thereby following Finland's move. Putin's comments come hours after his deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Finland and Sweden are making “another grave mistake” by aspiring NATO membership.

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Sweden and Finland joining Nato would be no threat to Russia but warned the Western alliance that moving ...

President helping determine movement of Russian soldiers, say sources, as head of UK armed forces says Ukraine is winning.

“Moscow … does not have the appropriate manpower and equipment levels to take the city swiftly,” he said in a weekly review of the fighting. “I’m very grateful to all the fighters like you.” Analysts believe there may be a long struggle for the city. They should be setting the political strategy rather than getting bogged down in day to day activity”. Russia’s military operates in a more top down fashion compared to western counterparts, with instructions typically sent to generals in the field. Ukrainian forces repelled 17 attacks on Sunday, he added, and destroyed 11 Russian armoured vehicles.