Russia has warned Finland and Sweden against joining Nato, arguing the move would not bring stability to Europe.

Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told reporters that, “the alliance remains a tool geared towards confrontation which is likely to bring Nato enlargement”.

US officials expect the Nordic neighbours to bid for membership of the alliance, potentially as early as June.

US State Department officials said last week that discussions had taken place between Nato leaders and foreign ministers from Helsinki and Stockholm.

Before it launched its invasion, Russia demanded that the alliance agree to halt any future enlargement, but the war has led to the deployment of more Nato troops on its eastern flank and a rise in public support for Swedish and Finnish membership.

Meanwhile, the Ukraine’s deputy prime minister has accused Russia of holding civilians, including journalists, activists and elected officials, in prisons on Russian territory.

According to him, “We have many priests, journalists, activists, mayors, and in general civilians who are in prisons, not, for example, even on the territory of Ukraine, but in [the] Kursk, Bryansk, Rostov (regions of Russia).

They are forcibly held” there, Iryna Vereshchuk comments.

Source: vanguardngr.com

Edited by: Ngozi Anna Akunne.