Vladimir Chizhov tells Sky News he is 'deeply disappointed and saddened' by Finland and Sweden's ambitions to join NATO and that Russia would have to respond if they become members
'Russia could have steamrolled Ukraine'
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Finland would be welcomed and that the accession would be"smooth and swift".Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerRussia's EU ambassador also insisted the war in Ukraine - or its"special military operation" as it calls it -"was proceeding according to schedule" but was"not as quick as some people would have wanted".
"Had Russian army followed the pattern of US and other Western countries, we would have steamrolled Ukraine several times by now," Mr Chizhov told Sky News. He claimed Russia never intended to capture Ukrainian territory but that it only wanted to provide"security" for self-proclaimed breakaway republics and demilitarise the country.
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