UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 303 - DECEMBER 21, 2022

The Kremlin is intensifying its information campaign, accusing NATO expansion of posing a military threat to Russia. Shoigu explains that NATO's military expansion near Russian borders, including NATO membership aspirations of Finland and Sweden, requires a "appropriate" Russian response to deploy a Russian military group in the northwest of Russia. Senior Kremlin officials stated that the accession of Nordic countries to NATO will not threaten Russia in spring 2022. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO in April 2022 would not pose an existential threat to Russia, and even Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO in May 2022 would make "no big difference."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington, DC on December 21. ISW will report on the details of Zelensky's visit and the Russian reactions on December 22.

The full Russian Offensive Update 303 is available directly at UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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