Moscow issued a stern warning Friday following Finland’s announcement that it plans to end its prohibition on hosting nuclear weapons within its borders.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the Nordic nation of heightening European tensions and declared that Russia would take countermeasures if nuclear arms are actually deployed on Finnish soil.
Finland, which borders Russia along an extensive frontier, abandoned its Cold War-era neutral stance and became a NATO member in 2023 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Finnish government announced Thursday its intention to remove the long-standing prohibition on nuclear weapons within its territory, potentially allowing such weapons to be stationed there during wartime.
“This is a statement that leads to an escalation of tensions on the European continent,” Peskov stated during a press briefing.
“This statement adds to Finland’s vulnerability, a vulnerability provoked by the actions of the Finnish authorities. The fact is that by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures,” he continued.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and concerns about unpredictable policies from U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly his expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, have prompted European nations to reassess their defense strategies and nuclear policies.
