OREANDA-NEWS. The Nordic countries are alarmed by Russia's actions on the border with Ukraine. The joint statement of the Defense Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden, published on Tuesday, December 21, indicates that they are following the developments in and around Ukraine with great concern.

«Russia's military activity recently, especially the extraordinary concentration of troops near the borders of Ukraine, is alarming and may have a destabilizing effect on our overall security atmosphere», the statement posted on the website of the Finnish Defense Ministry said. The document emphasizes that the states of Northern Europe continue to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine, its sovereignty and the right to determine its own foreign policy and security policy without outside interference.

In October, reports began to arrive about the pulling of Russian troops to the border with Ukraine. The President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky, said that up to 100 thousand Russian troops were stationed at the borders of his country. US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has suggested that Russia may invade Ukraine in early 2022. The United States and other Western countries have threatened the Russian Federation with the toughest sanctions in case of such a scenario.

Moscow constantly refutes information about the impending invasion of Ukraine and, for its part, accuses NATO of arming Kiev and conducting maneuvers near the borders of Russia. On December 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the United States for increasing tensions in Europe.

Last week, Russia demanded to exclude Ukraine from joining NATO and suggested that the alliance abandon military operations in countries neighboring Russia. The relevant provisions of the Foreign Ministry included in the draft security treaty, which was sent to Washington. The United States stated that a dialogue with Moscow on security guarantees is possible only in conditions of de-escalation at the borders of Ukraine and in coordination with European allies and partners.