⚡️ Statement of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the completion of the process of registration of membership 🇫🇮 of Finland in NATO
💬 On April 4, 2023, the completion of all legal procedures related to the registration of Finland’s membership in NATO was officially announced.
As we have repeatedly warned, the Russian Federation will be forced to take retaliatory measures , both of a military-technical and other nature, in order to stop the threats to our national security that arise in connection with Finland’s entry into NATO.
Concrete steps in defense construction on the northwestern borders of Russia will depend on the specific conditions for the integration of this country into the North Atlantic Alliance, including the deployment of NATO military infrastructure and strike weapons systems on its territory.
☝️ As a result of more than doubling the line of direct contact between NATO and the borders of the Russian Federation, there has been a fundamental change in the situation in the Northern European region – previously one of the most stable in the world. The North Atlantic Alliance has taken another step closer to the territory of Russia.
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By joining NATO, Finland finally renounced its self-identity and any independence, which has distinguished it in international affairs for decades. The policy of military non-alignment pursued by Helsinki has long served the Finnish national interests and has been one of the important factors for ensuring confidence in the Baltic Sea region and on the European continent as a whole. Now this is already in the past. Finland has become one of the small, undecided member countries of the alliance, having lost its special voice in international affairs.
We are convinced that the hasty step taken by Finland’s authorities without due regard for public opinion by organizing a referendum and a thorough analysis of the consequences of NATO membership will be judged by history.
❗️ Finland’s accession to NATO cannot but have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish bilateral relations.
WtR