Russia Vows ‘Retaliatory Steps’ Over Finland NATO Membership

Russia has vowed to take “retaliatory steps” in response to Finland’s announcement that it plans to apply to join NATO.

“Moscow will be left with no choice but to respond to Finland’s decision to join the military alliance,” Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Finland joining NATO is a radical change in the country’s foreign policy.”

“Russia will be forced to take retaliatory steps, both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop threats to its national security arising,” the ministry said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a joint press conference with German Chancellor following their meeting over Ukraine security at the Kremlin, in Moscow, on February 15, 2022. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/Sputnik/AFP/Getty Images

Finland and neighbor Sweden have weighed applying for NATO membership since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Finland and Sweden joining NATO after decades of military non-alignment would mark a major change in their security policy and a dramatic shift in Europe’s security landscape.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov separately said Thursday that the move is “definitely” a threat to Russia, which shares a more than 800-mile border with the country.

He was cited by Reuters as saying that the Nordic country had joined “unfriendly steps” against Russia.

Russia would “analyze and take necessary measures to balance the situation and ensure our security,” should Finland join NATO, Peskov said.

Russia previously threatened “serious military-political repercussions” if Finland and Sweden were to join the alliance. Moscow has warned that the move “will not bring stability” to Europe.

Newsweek has contacted NATO and Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs for comment.

This is a developing story and it will be updated.