MOSCOW, September 10. /TASS/. If Sweden joins NATO, the situation would demand response steps from the Russian side, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.

"We have repeatedly said that the choice of the national defense and security strategy is an internal and sovereign affair of each state. But we still consider the policy of Sweden’s non-participation in military blocs as an important factor of ensuring stability in northern Europe," the diplomat said.

"Sweden’s admission to NATO would have military-political and foreign policy consequences that would require necessary response steps from the Russian side," Zakharova underscored.