Russian President’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated in a briefing that NATO’s expansion, notably Finland’s accession, compelled Moscow to take steps to safeguard its security. The Kremlin spokesperson reiterated that Finland’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance represents a pressure on Russia’s security landscape and would be met with appropriate measures.
Alexander Grushko, former Deputy Foreign Minister, asserted that Russia would respond to Finland’s NATO membership by reinforcing its military presence in the west and northwest, aligning response plans with strategic needs.
On the preceding day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Finland’s membership would be formalized with a ceremony at NATO headquarters, marking a new chapter for the alliance. Stoltenberg noted that Finnish President Sauli Niinistö would participate in the ceremony and speak alongside other leaders, underscoring the significance of the moment for allied unity.
Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO in 2022. The accession process for the Nordic countries faced delays due to disagreements among members and Türkiye. In a recent development, Türkiye’s president indicated approval of Finland’s bid, clearing a major hurdle and bringing Finland closer to full alliance membership.