"Russia's Response to NATO's New Members: A Warning"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Russia will respond to the increased size of NATO, particularly with the prospect of Sweden joining the alliance. Lavrov expressed surprise at how quickly Finland and Sweden abandoned their neutral status and joined NATO. Russia also cautioned against Ukraine joining NATO, stating that it would be dangerous for European security. While NATO supports Ukraine against Russian aggression, some members, including the United States, oppose giving Ukraine a timetable for membership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called it "absurd" that Ukraine has not received a proper accession timetable, while NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence in a positive outcome for Ukraine's membership.