Stockholm, Sweden. File photoWASHINGTON, Jan 20 Sweden and Finland have expressed no desire to join NATO, but have expressed US concern about the security situation in Europe, said US President Joe Biden.
&# 34; We are talking about the concern on the part of Sweden and Finland about the actions of Russia. The last thing Russia would like is for Sweden and Finland to change their status," Biden said at a press conference ahead of the anniversary of his tenure as head of state.
Biden stressed that neither Helsinki nor Stockholm yet did not express a desire to join NATO. «They did not say that they intend to do this. However, they talk about what is happening and how aggressive Russia is behaving,» the American leader added.
Biden said that the United States will not reduce its military presence in Europe Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier that Sweden and Finland largely comply with NATO defense standards, and, in the event of their respective political decision, could quickly join NATO. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the Russian Federation does not understand the call for de-escalation against the backdrop of NATO's words about expanding and, requests for an increase in contingent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, said that Moscow respects the sovereignty of Finland and Sweden, but he is not respected by those who want to provoke the entry of these countries into NATO. .jpg» />Biden assessed the likelihood of Ukraine joining NATO