Moscow Carefully Sizing Up NATO’s Force Posture Along Russia’s Border, Says Kremlin

Moscow is carefully sizing up everything touching upon NATO’s force posture along Russia’s borders, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, commenting on the possible NATO accession of Finland and Sweden.

“We are keeping an exceedingly close eye on everything related to actions that can one way or another change the alliance’s force posture along our borders. This is subject to a very careful analysis,” he said. “We can say nothing more at this point,” Peskov emphasized.

According to earlier reports, an inter-party analysis of the security policy situation would be prepared in Sweden by May 13. Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Workers’ Party is expected to make a decision regarding the country’s NATO membership on May 15. In Finland, most parliament members have already supported the idea of NATO membership. The country’s president and government will make a joint decision on Finland’s bid. Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated that she would make an announcement before her Social Democratic Party came to a decision at a May 14 meeting.