Rasmussen pointed out that the cost of a possible Russian attack on Ukraine would be high for Moscow.
Finland and Sweden meet the criteria for membership in NATO, and therefore, in the event of their initiative, the entry of these states into the Alliance could be carried out “instantly”.
This was stated by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in an interview with Yle.
He clarified that if Finland and Sweden apply to join NATO, it can be considered very quickly.
“If Finland and Sweden applied for membership, we could make a decision instantly. You can become a member (of the Alliance — ed.) the very next day, because you meet all the necessary criteria,” he said.
According to him, NATO's doors are open to everyone, and the Russian authorities cannot dictate who can join the Alliance and who can't. At the same time, the former Secretary General of the Alliance stressed that if the Russian Federation nevertheless decides to attack Ukraine again, then it will cost her too much.
“In practice, Russia is demanding a veto on NATO expansion. NATO's doors will remain open and we don't want Vladimir Putin to be the doorman… I don't understand Russia's logic here. If Russia invades Ukraine, it will undoubtedly intensify the membership debate “to NATO in Finland and Sweden. The cost of attacking Ukraine will be high,” Rasmussen said.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said earlier that his country has no plans to join NATO yet.
Earlier in Finland, they sharply responded to the demands of the Russian Federation to abandon NATO.
By the way, on January 12, after a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Jens Stoltenberg announced his refusal to agree to Russia's ultimatum to admit Ukraine to the Alliance.
