Swedish PM Magdalena Andersson announced on Monday that the Swedish government has formally decided that it will apply for NATO membership, reported Reuters. Accession to full membership should not take more than a year, she noted. 

Sweden's decision to formally apply for NATO membership was expected and comes after Finland also announced its intentions to join the defensive alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Monday warned that Russia would react to any military expansion in Sweden or Finland and said NATO expansion was a problem.