Russia Warns Finland Against Hosting Nuclear Weapons On Its Territory, Says It Will Respond

Russia has warned it will respond if Finland deploys nuclear weapons on its territory, accusing Helsinki of escalating tensions in Europe and threatening Russian security.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday that Finland’s plan to lift a longstanding ban on hosting nuclear arms raises the country’s vulnerability and poses a direct threat to Russia.

“This is a statement that leads to an escalation of tensions on the European continent. This statement adds to Finland’s vulnerability, a vulnerability provoked by the actions of the Finnish authorities,” Peskov said.

“The fact is that by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures,” he added.

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, maintained neutrality during the Cold War but joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Naija News gathered that Finland announced Thursday it was planning to lift its ban on hosting nuclear weapons, a move that could allow NATO to place them on Finnish soil during wartime.

In other news, Naija News reported that Romanian President Nicusor Dan ruled out hosting nuclear components on Romanian territory on Thursday, despite receiving an invitation from France to participate in expanded nuclear deterrence cooperation.

Russia’s actions in Ukraine and unpredictable moves by US President Donald Trump, especially his stated aim of taking over Greenland, have pushed European governments to rethink their security strategies, including the role of nuclear arms.

The warning from Moscow signals growing tensions between Russia and NATO members along its border as European nations reassess their defence postures in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment.