“Our border with Finland is 1,300km long. The military and political situation will completely change. Then we will be forced to take security and defense measures that we consider necessary. necessary,” said Deputy Minister Grushko when asked about the possibility Russia deployment of nuclear weapons in the Baltic region. “At the moment, I cannot answer whether this is possible or not (Sweden and Finland join NATO).
For decades, the neutrality of these countries has helped maintain security in their respective countries and regional security in general. That area has become an area of peace and cooperation. This is a reliable platform for building good neighborly relations with Russia,” Grushko said.
Regarding China, CIA Director William Burns called the country a “serious adversary” trying to surpass the US in everything from economy to military power, aerospace and cyber security.
Therefore, considering the vital interests of people living in the north of Europe, the current situation must be maintained, Grushko stressed. “Otherwise, the military situation will worsen, and bring about undesirable consequences,” he said.
Responding to Moscow’s contact with Helsinki and Stockholm in the context of these countries discussing the possibility of joining NATO, Mr. Grushko said “diplomatic contacts are always maintained”. “But Sweden and Finland have joined the wave of sanctions, and are participating in the campaign against Russia initiated by the West. That’s the reality,” he said.
Tanks of Sweden and Finland at the “Cold Response 2022” exercise with NATO member countries Photo: Reuters
On the same day, when asked about the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in the Baltic region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he “cannot comment until the plan to strengthen the security of the eastern border”. West was drafted by the Russian Ministry of Defense”. The Times previously cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that Finland and Sweden may join NATO this summer. Sweden is expected to apply to join NATO in June, followed by Finland.
CIA Director: The risk of Russia using nuclear weapons cannot be underestimated
On April 14, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns warned that the US cannot underestimate the risk of Russia using low- or tactical nuclear weapons. Mr. Burns’ comments since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine underscored concern that the current conflict could escalate to the point of using nuclear weapons. On April 14, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, warned NATO that Moscow would send nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles to Kaliningrad, the land in the heart of Europe, if Sweden were to and Finland became a member of NATO.
“None of us can downplay the risk of them using a tactical or low-level nuclear weapon,” Burns said. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin once announced that he put the world’s largest nuclear arsenal on high alert, Burns said that US intelligence “didn’t see much actual evidence that military deployment to that extent”.
Tactical and low-level nuclear weapons are those designed for use on the battlefield. Experts estimate that Russia has about 2,000 such weapons for use by ground, air and sea forces. Burns said US intelligence agencies began gathering intelligence about Putin’s plans in Ukraine last fall.
The CIA director said that US President Joe Biden sent him to Moscow in November 2021 to “directly convey to Putin and his closest advisers about US concerns about the Russian attack plan. , as well as the consequences Moscow will have to bear if it implements that plan.”
The CIA director said he was very worried about what he had heard during that trip, that although President Putin may not have made a final decision, the Russian leader appeared to be confident that the Russian military would “rapidly reach the end of the war.” get a decisive victory with the lowest loss”.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
