Russia will take counter-measures in response to Finland joining NATO, the Kremlin has warned, ahead of the official flag raising ceremony later today. Vladimir Putin's chief spokesman said Moscow viewed Finland's ascension to the western military alliance as an 'assault on our security', after the Russian despot ordered the invasion of sovereign Ukraine last year.

Finland today becomes the 31st member of NATO, in a historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's assault on Ukraine, which roughly doubles the US-led alliance's border with Russia. Ahead of the ceremony today, Russia raged against Finland's ascension, branding its membership an 'assault on our security' and said it would take countermeasures.

'The Kremlin believes that this is the latest aggravation of the situation,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

'The expansion of NATO is an assault on our security and Russia's national interests,' he added. 'And this forces us to take countermeasures... in tactical and strategic terms.' He did not provide further details on what these could be.

Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called the latest expansion of the alliance a historic event and direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and promised to ensure that Finland's fellow Nordic country Sweden would also join.

'Putin had as a declared goal of the invasion of Ukraine to get less NATO,' Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers.

'He is getting exactly the opposite... Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance,' he said.

Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Finland's accession to the NATO military alliance - and NATO's move to increase its own combat-readiness - increased the risk of conflict between Russia and the West. Shoigu also said that some Belarusian military jets were now capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that Iskander rocket systems had been transferred to Belarus, which could be used to carry conventional or nuclear missiles.

Putin said last month that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus.

Russia used Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion last year and fears have remained high in Kyiv and the West that it could be further dragged into the conflict by Moscow, with some warning of a false-flag attack to justify Minsk getting involved.

Cizarr:
Putin will bomb Finland??

UnusualEmissary:


An attack against any member of NATO attracts a collective counter attack from all.

Russia will think twice before doing such a thing although there's still possiblity.

lhordspy:


Lol.

UnusualEmissary:


An attack against any member of NATO attracts a collective counter attack from all.

Russia will think twice before doing such a thing although there's still possiblity.

UnusualEmissary:


An attack against any member of NATO attracts a collective counter attack from all.

Russia will think twice before doing such a thing although there's still possiblity.

Cizarr:
Putin will bomb Finland??

lhordspy:
NATO keep projecting themselves as peace maker but in real sense; they are the real troublemaker, the aggressor.

You are trying to encircle Russia with nuclear weapons by expanding along its border, placing weapons in its surrounding country and you expect Russia to fold its hand, close its eyes and go to sleep?

Something the Hypocritical US wont take from anyone. A country that almost nuked its neighbour; Cuba, just because Russia started building military base there. If not for Russia pulling out and allowing peace to reign. Cuba would have evaporated into dust by now just like Hiroshima and Nagasaki (both nuked by this same US).

Something the US cant take, they go around dishing it to others. Afterall they control the media and the mind of the people. All they had to do is spin the narratives like they are doing the world a favour by trying to create unrest and war everywhere.

Peacemaker indeed.

lhordspy:


Lol. NATO countries are bunch of spineless jokers. Believe the articles 4 and 5 at your own peril.

When rocket strayed into Poland few months ago. And rumours started going round it was Russia's missile. They all cowered like little fear babies.

They were making excuses here and there. None of them could even summon the courage to even talk about war with Russia. They were all looking for something else to blame for the attack until it was discovered the missile strayed from Ukrainian launcher.

What a relieve it was for them back then. Bunch of scared little noisemakers.

lhordspy:


Lol. NATO countries are bunch of spineless jokers. Believe the articles 4 and 5 at your own peril.

When rocket strayed into Poland few months ago. And rumours started going round it was Russia's missile. They all cowered like little fear babies.

They were making excuses here and there. None of them could even summon the courage to even talk about war with Russia. They were all looking for something else to blame for the attack until it was discovered the missile strayed from Ukrainian launcher.

What a relieve it was for them back then. Bunch of scared little noisemakers.

lhordspy:


Lol. NATO countries are bunch of spineless jokers. Believe the articles 4 and 5 at your own peril.

When rocket strayed into Poland few months ago. And rumours started going round it was Russia's missile. They all cowered like little fear babies.

They were making excuses here and there. None of them could even summon the courage to even talk about war with Russia. They were all looking for something else to blame for the attack until it was discovered the missile strayed from Ukrainian launcher.

What a relieve it was for them back then. Bunch of scared little noisemakers.