The Kremlin warned today that it would take “countermeasures” after Finland joined NATO, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said it increased the likelihood of further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that NATO expansion, long criticized by Moscow, is “a violation of our security and an infringement of Russia’s national interests” and that Moscow would closely monitor any deployment of NATO troops in Finland.
Russia and Finland share a 1,300 km border, and Moscow has already announced its intention to strengthen its military units based in the west and northwest.
Finland will officially join the Atlantic Alliance today.
Shoigu informed Russian military leaders during the meeting that Finland’s annexation “causes risks of a significant expansion of the conflict” in Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
However, according to the Russian minister, this will not affect the outcome of the “special military operation” in Ukraine, as the designation given by Russia.
Belarusian military personnel have begun training in Russia to use “tactical” nuclear weapons, Moscow and Minsk said today, as the Kremlin recently announced the deployment of such weapons in Belarus.
“The combat-ready tactical missile system Iskander-M has been handed over to the armed forces of Belarus. It can use conventional missiles as well as nuclear ones,” Shoigu said.
“Since April 3, Belarusian personnel have been trained in its use. […] at the Russian training center,” he added during the meeting.
On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would “regularly” deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, raising concerns in Kyiv and the West.
According to Putin, ten aircraft have already been equipped in Belarus to use such tactical nuclear weapons, and the special warehouse will be ready by July 1.
However, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said last week that he was ready to deploy Russian strategic nuclear weapons in addition to tactical nuclear weapons.
Source: APE-MPE, Reuters, AFP.
Source: Kathimerini
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