Russia says it would respond if Sweden, Finland drawn into NATO: Ifax

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that such an expansion would undermine global security.

MOSCOW — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday Moscow would respond if Sweden and Finland were drawn into the NATO alliance and that such expansion would undermine global security, the Interfax news agency reported.

Shoigu also said last week’s summit in Helsinki between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin could lead to deeper military cooperation between Russia and the United States as well as NATO countries.

Read more:

• Swedes told to prepare for conflict in Cold War-style booklet
• A US-led naval Arctic security program is excluding Russia. That’s a big mistake.
• Finns, worried by Russia, hand cautious president huge election win

Reporting by Polina Ivanova.