OREANDA-NEWS. Russia's policies challenge and threaten Europe's security system, Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist has said. This was stated by Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, SVT Nyheter reported.

The Swedish defence minister said that Russia had challenged international law by demanding that Ukraine not be accepted into the North Atlantic Alliance. By doing so, Moscow questioned the right of other countries to self-determination, he stressed.

According to Hultqvist, Stockholm should cooperate more actively with NATO, which together with the European Union serves as "an essential security platform".

"It is our own choice and based on the decision of the Swedish parliament. That is the way it should be. There is no room for compromise in this matter,"- the Swedish defence minister concluded.

Earlier, Estonian Defence Minister Kalle Laanet said the EU and NATO faced a "clear" threat from Russia, which prevented other countries from "living peacefully and democratically".

In December 2021, Estonian President Alar Karis noted that the U.S. and NATO countries should not consider Russia's "commands" for security guarantees, which include not expanding the bloc eastwards.

Latvian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Vilumsons also spoke about the impossibility of meeting Russia's demands for security guarantees, including not allowing Ukraine to join NATO and the EU.

"This would violate all the principles that we have agreed, which the international community adopted in the 20th century,"- the politician assured.

Russian authorities, for their part, see NATO expansion as a direct threat to the country's security. Last November, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow needed "reliable and long-term security guarantees" because NATO forces were close to Russia's borders.