MojNews_ Finland and Sweden are preparing to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and this will be done by the summer of this year, the British newspaper The Times reported, quoting officials who did not want to be named.

Russia has made a "major strategic mistake" by invading Ukraine, prompting Sweden and Finland to join NATO by early summer, according to Reuters.

According to the report, US officials said that during last week&#۳۹;s meeting of NATO foreign ministers, which was attended by the foreign ministers of Sweden and Finland, the two countries&#۳۹; membership in Northern Europe in NATO was "the subject of several talks."

Washington reportedly supports Finland and NATO membership in NATO, and believes that by increasing Russia&#۳۹;s NATO membership from ۳۰ to ۳۲, it will reduce Russia&#۳۹;s military might.

According to previous speculations in the Western media, Finland was preparing to make a historic decision to apply for NATO membership "before the first half of the summer" in order to deter "Russian aggression".