Sweden, Finland free to choose own path, says UK

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - Sweden and Finland are free to choose their future without foreign interference, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Thursday in a swipe at Russia after it warned the two countries against joining NATO.

"Russian threats towards the Nordic & Baltic states are not new and only strengthen our unity. Sweden and Finland are free to choose their future without interference - the UK will support whatever they decide," Truss tweeted.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and currently deputy head of the country's Security Council, warned earlier on Thursday that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, the nuclear-free status of the Baltic could no longer be discussed.

"We do not have territorial disputes with these countries as we do with Ukraine. Therefore, the price of such a membership is different for us," he said in an article on his Telegram channel, meaning that Ukraine's admission to NATO could lead to a direct conflict between Russia and the alliance if Kyiv tried to retake Crimea.

Medvedev also claimed that public opinion in Finland and Sweden is divided on NATO membership despite the efforts of local "propagandists." Their admission to NATO would make the world more dangerous, he added.

Underlining that Russia does not want increased border tensions, he said: "Let's hope that the mind of our northern neighbors will still win."

On Monday, the British newspaper Times, citing sources, reported that Sweden and Finland intend to join NATO this summer.