The US on Thursday assured Sweden and Finland that it would address any security issues in the time it takes to formalize their anticipated NATO applications.

Sweden and Finland, who are both mulling joining NATO in light of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, have expressed concerns that they could be vulnerable to Russian threats during the application process, which, according to Reuters, could take as long as a year before the two countries are allowed into the alliance.

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Addressing these concerns, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance.”

The comments by Psaki, who is slated to leave the White House next week, came hours after Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde announced that she had received security assurances from the US.

“Naturally, I’m not going to go into any details, but I feel very sure that now we have an American assurance,” Linde told Swedish television channels from Washington, where she had gone to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

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“They would mean that Russia can be clear that if they direct any kind of negative activities against Sweden, which they have threatened, it would not be something that the U.S. would just allow to happen … without a response,” Linde added, explaining the essence of the assurances she received.

Both Sweden and Finland, which are expected to make a final decision on whether to join NATO this month, fear that they will be targeted by Russian cyberattacks and waves of Russian propaganda the moment they formally apply for NATO membership, a move that Moscow has already voiced its objection to.