Russian news outlets quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying on Saturday that if NATO sends nuclear forces and equipment closer to Russia’s border, Moscow will take appropriate precautions.
Grushko was quoted by Interfax as saying, “It will be necessary to respond… by adopting proper preventive steps that would assure the viability of deterrence.”
Grushko stated that Moscow has no aggressive intents toward Finland and Sweden and sees no “real” reasons for the two nations to join NATO.
He also reaffirmed the Kremlin’s earlier position that Moscow’s response to NATO’s potential expansion will be determined by how near the alliance pushes military forces and infrastructure toward Russia.
Finland’s decision to seek NATO membership, which was revealed on Thursday, and the anticipation that Sweden will follow suit, would result in the Western military alliance’s expansion, something Russian President Vladimir Putin had hoped to avoid.
