Sweden’s defence budget will increase $2bn next year to reach 2,1% of GDP and surpass NATO’s target
The naval strike group of the Northern Fleet, consisting of the missile cruiser "Marshal Ustinov" and the destroyer "Admiral Ushakov", fired at sea targets during exercises in the Barents Sea and on the coast of the Kola Peninsula
The Russian embassy in Helsinki accuses the Finnish authorities of detaining a Russian citizen at Ukraine's request
1 year agoPM of Finland Petteri Orpo is on visit in Kyiv
Power cut at Gothenburg's central station - trains stand still
President Zelensky arrived in Denmark after his visit to the Netherlands
President Zelensky is on visit in Sweden
Sweden PM says country has averted planned attacks
1 year agoPro-Iranian militia in Iraq are now urging their followers to target Swedish citizens in Iraq, labeling them as "Supporters of Zionism”. Ash’ab al-Kahaf has issued a statement calling on its supporters to aim at Swedish interests & citizens in Iraq
Biden: I don’t think the war could go on for years. Says there are 2 reasons for that: 1. does not think Russia could maintain a war for years with resources/capacity 2. Thinks Putin will eventually decide its not in Russia’s interest, politically/economically, to continue the war
Biden in Helsinki was asked about Russia’s war on Ukraine: “I don't think the war can go on for years,” calls for a “negotiated settlement.”
NATO Secretary General: The membership of Finland and Sweden in NATO is a clear message to President Putin
1 year agoJens Stoltenberg: Glad to announce that after the meeting I hosted with @RTErdogan and @SwedishPM, President Erdogan has agreed to forward Sweden's accession protocol to the Grand National Assembly ASAP and ensure ratification. This is an historic step which makes all NATO Allies stronger and safer
1 year agoSadr supporters are trying to storm the Sweden embassy in Baghdad after allowing the Quran to be burned
Hungary's parliament postponed ratifying Sweden's NATO accession bid on Wednesday to its autumn legislative session, AP reports
Shoigu: the formation of reserve armies of the Russian Armed Forces will be completed by the end of June
Sweden will allow NATO to base troops on its soil even before it formally joins the alliance: "The preparations may consist of temporary basing of foreign equipment and personnel on Swedish territory. The decision sends a clear signal to Russia & strengthens Sweden's defence"
Blinken: We worked to support Ukraine and strengthen NATO after the war broke out
NATO secretary general says all allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance, Russia cannot veto it
Russia declares five employees of the Swedish embassy persona non grata - Russian Foreign Ministry
In Helsinki, President of Ukraine Zelensky meets with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinisto. Later today, the presidents will take part in the Nordic-Ukrainian leaders' summit, where the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland will also be present.
Right now, production is down for the nuclear power reactors Forsmark 1 and 2. According to press manager Josef Nylén, it is the disturbance in Svenska Kraftnät that forced the reactors to shut down
Forsmark 1 and 2 have been disconnected. Frequency dip in Stockholm at Svenska Kraftnät's "control room" shows red
Sweden expels five Russian diplomats
1 year agoThe Norwegian Joint Headquarters confirms that a Norwegian P-8 was identified by a Russian fighter over the Barents Sea yesterday: "The identification was conducted in a safe and professional manner, in accordance with the Incident at Sea agreement"
Norway declares 15 intelligence officers working at Russia's embassy in Oslo personae non gratae:
“This has been the fastest accession process in NATO’s modern history,” @jensstoltenberg says at @NATO ceremony welcoming Finland to the alliance
1 year agoFinland joined NATO
Turkish Foreign Minister Cavasoglu hands @SecBlinken Turkey's ratification documents for Finland to join NATO. nnFinland is now in the alliance
Ukrainian Foreign Min @DmytroKuleba says Finland joining NATO, unthinkable even two years ago, shows it's time for everyone to reconsider old notions of security. He means it's time for NATO to let his country in
