«This creates significant risks of escalation in the conflict»: Shoigu

Moscow has referred to NATO's accession of Finland as an increase in the alliance's activity near its borders. The Kremlin believes that this poses serious risks of escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.

“We will keep a close watch on what is happening in Finland, how the North Atlantic alliance will utilize Finnish territory to deploy weapons and infrastructure systems that are close to our borders and could threaten us. Depending on that, measures will be taken,” said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Ministry of Defense also reacted negatively to the news.

“Of course, this creates significant risks of escalation in the conflict, but it will not affect the outcome of the special operation,” said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to him, NATO is “intensifying its anti-Russian course” and leading to an escalation of the conflict by increasing military aid to Ukraine in the form of tanks, modern armored vehicles, as well as long-range weaponry.