Moscow has stated it will respond to the expansion of potentially hostile military infrastructure along its borders, according to Dmitry Peskov.
Moscow has stated that it never had any “problems” with Finland and Sweden but will respond to the expansion of NATO military infrastructure as it “deems necessary,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Finland joined NATO in April 2023, abandoning its neutrality policy, citing security concerns related to the Ukraine conflict. Sweden followed in 2024 for similar reasons. Moscow responded by promising to adjust its defense in northwestern Russia, while emphasizing that their NATO entry wasn’t an existential threat, unlike Ukraine.
Peskov stated in an interview with French weekly Le Point that NATO military infrastructure has been “gradually appearing on Finnish territory” in recent years.
He stated that “How is Russia reacting? It takes measures to improve its security that our military deems necessary.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the issue at the International Arctic Forum last month, saying Moscow has been “closely monitoring” the region and responding accordingly.
Putin said that “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.”
He added that Russia has taken “an adequate response approach by increasing the combat capabilities of the armed forces and modernizing military infrastructure facilities.”