Kremlin cautions NATO on potential reaction to military increase in Finland
Russia is committed to addressing the expansion of potentially hostile military infrastructure along its borders, stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to Peskov, Moscow has not encountered any significant issues with the recent...
TroibNews 
Russia is committed to addressing the expansion of potentially hostile military infrastructure along its borders, stated Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
According to Peskov, Moscow has not encountered any significant issues with the recent NATO members, Finland and Sweden, but will respond to NATO's expansion as it sees fit. Finland shifted away from its previous neutrality and joined NATO in April 2023, citing security concerns stemming from the conflict in Ukraine. Sweden followed suit in 2024 for similar reasons. In light of this, Russia has indicated plans to adjust its defense strategy in northwestern Russia, while stressing that the accession of these two countries does not constitute an existential threat to the nation, unlike Ukraine's situation.
Peskov mentioned in an interview with French weekly Le Point that NATO military infrastructure has been progressively established on Finnish territory in recent years. He remarked, “How is Russia reacting? It takes measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.”
He reiterated that Russia does not have “any problems” with Finland or Sweden joining NATO and has no intentions to launch attacks against them. “Fortunately, neither the Baltic countries nor Finland are firing at Russians from tanks and airplanes, in contrast to what has been happening in Donbass since 2014,” Peskov noted.
A NATO policy update published recently highlights the alliance’s ongoing efforts to integrate its newest members—Finland and Sweden—into its plans, forces, and command structures, with an emphasis on enhancing presence in Finland. The document commended Sweden for its role as a “framework nation” in the enhanced forward presence in Finland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently stated that member states are also collaborating in the Arctic to secure this part of NATO territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the issue during the International Arctic Forum last month, emphasizing that Moscow is “closely monitoring” developments in the region and adjusting its approach as needed. He expressed concern about NATO member states increasingly designating the Arctic as a potential conflict zone, noting, “We are, of course, concerned by the fact that NATO countries as a whole are more frequently designating the far north as a bridgehead for possible conflicts, practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including their new recruits from Finland and Sweden.” Putin also indicated that Russia is responding effectively by bolstering the combat capabilities of its armed forces and modernizing military infrastructure.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
According to Peskov, Moscow has not encountered any significant issues with the recent NATO members, Finland and Sweden, but will respond to NATO's expansion as it sees fit. Finland shifted away from its previous neutrality and joined NATO in April 2023, citing security concerns stemming from the conflict in Ukraine. Sweden followed suit in 2024 for similar reasons. In light of this, Russia has indicated plans to adjust its defense strategy in northwestern Russia, while stressing that the accession of these two countries does not constitute an existential threat to the nation, unlike Ukraine's situation.
Peskov mentioned in an interview with French weekly Le Point that NATO military infrastructure has been progressively established on Finnish territory in recent years. He remarked, “How is Russia reacting? It takes measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.”
He reiterated that Russia does not have “any problems” with Finland or Sweden joining NATO and has no intentions to launch attacks against them. “Fortunately, neither the Baltic countries nor Finland are firing at Russians from tanks and airplanes, in contrast to what has been happening in Donbass since 2014,” Peskov noted.
A NATO policy update published recently highlights the alliance’s ongoing efforts to integrate its newest members—Finland and Sweden—into its plans, forces, and command structures, with an emphasis on enhancing presence in Finland. The document commended Sweden for its role as a “framework nation” in the enhanced forward presence in Finland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently stated that member states are also collaborating in the Arctic to secure this part of NATO territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the issue during the International Arctic Forum last month, emphasizing that Moscow is “closely monitoring” developments in the region and adjusting its approach as needed. He expressed concern about NATO member states increasingly designating the Arctic as a potential conflict zone, noting, “We are, of course, concerned by the fact that NATO countries as a whole are more frequently designating the far north as a bridgehead for possible conflicts, practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including their new recruits from Finland and Sweden.” Putin also indicated that Russia is responding effectively by bolstering the combat capabilities of its armed forces and modernizing military infrastructure.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
