Vladimir Putin’s Threat to Sweden: Nuclear War and Returning Russian Lands | Politics | News
The Russian president launched his brutal attack in February, but it has not gone according to plan and Sweden and Finland look set to join NATO. President Vladimir Putin has made regular threats against Russia’s Scandinavian neighbors since then as fears increase about what the strong man could do next. Express.co.uk looks at the Russian leader’s threat against Sweden since Moscow has increased tensions between Moscow and Stockholm.
Russian planes violate Swedish airspace
Military planes from Russia violated Swedish airspace earlier this month in a shocking warning against Russia’s neighbors.
Two fighter planes followed on 9 June with a signal reconnaissance plan north of Visby without reporting the approach.
The tactic is common from Russia and in February this year, RAF jets were set up to capture four Russian military aircraft flying north of Scotland.
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Putin talks about returning Russian countries
The Russian president recently found inspiration in former Tsar Peter the Great who fought against Sweden for 21 years.
Putin made the comments earlier this month when he said that Russia was returning its lands to the war and now it is up to the current generation to do so again.
The warning raised fears that Putin could escalate his conflict with other states.
Putin’s ally Dmitry Medvedev did not utter a word after learning about Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO application.
Speaking on the decision in April, the Vice-President of the Russian Security Council said: “There can no longer be any question of a nuclear-weapon-free status for the Baltic Sea – the balance must be restored.”
Russia has one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world and the comments increased the fear of nuclear war in Europe.
Will Russia and Sweden go to war?
Despite Moscow’s threats against Sweden, it is unlikely that the two countries will fight each other on the battlefield.
Sweden’s NATO application and promises of military protection from Western governments would cause a huge escalation and stretch Russia’s military too thin.
Threats against Sweden and other countries seem to be a Russian tactic to deter other neutral countries from joining the military alliance.