Russia strengthens its military forces as Finland joins NATO
Russia will strengthen its forces on its western borders following Finland's accession to NATO, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shigu told a meeting of the ministry's governing council today. So-called "threats to Russia's military security require an adequate and timely response," he said, reports Reuters. NATO member Poland, on the other hand, has already announced plans to strengthen its army and also expects significant Alliance forces and weaponry to be deployed to Finland.
The West's unprecedented support for Ukraine by providing tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons to help Kiev repel Russian forces amounts to an undeclared war against Russia, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shigu said. According to him, the Russian Defence Council will examine several issues concerning the creation of the Leningrad and Moscow military districts, as well as the simultaneous reinforcement of Russian Armed Forces troop groups on the country's western borders.
The Russian defence minister described Finland's accession to NATO and Sweden's future entry into the alliance as "a serious destabilising factor".
The two Nordic states have abandoned their decades-long tradition of neutrality, maintained during the Cold War, and are seeking NATO membership after Russia's war in Ukraine begins in February 2022.
Poland, a NATO member, has already announced plans to strengthen its army and also expects significant alliance forces and weaponry to be deployed to Finland.
At the NATO summit in Vilnius, the historic decision was taken to accept Ukraine into the Alliance, relieving it of the obligation to have a personal membership plan. This is a strong message to the Russian Federation, experts say.
