That is why Russia is pressing now

Russia amassed tens of thousands – according to some estimates over 100,000 – near the border with Ukraine during the fall.

Moscow has since sent a list of demands to NATO and the United States, demanding, among other things, that the military alliance not accept any new members.

According to Gudrun Persson, a Russian expert and research leader at the Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI, there are several reasons why the requirements are being defined at the moment.

The Russian side has its rationality and logic. Sometimes some observers in the West don’t really see it, but say they are strange demands, but from the Russian horizon you see the weak USA and EU, says Pearson.

Foreign exchange reserves and good government finance

Russia’s good public finances and good foreign exchange reserves are cited as other reasons for the escalation.

In addition, many world leaders are busy with other matters, she continues.

Merkel is far away in Germany, Macron campaigns in France, and Johnson has big problems in the UK at the moment.

Do you see anything that would reduce stress?

– This is an unresolved dispute at a conversation in Geneva. Hard work applies here. These are tough questions, they are complex. There has been talk about the limitations of medium-distance robotics in Europe, which would be very good for our security in Northern Europe, says Pearson and continues:

– This also affects the entire security. From the Kola Peninsula, across the Baltic Sea all the way to the Black Sea.