Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that there will be “problems” with Finland after the neighboring country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) earlier this year and has announced a military buildup in northwest Russia in response.
After the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, Finland abandoned its policy of military neutrality and joined NATO in April this year. The country has a 1,340 kilometer long border with Russia.
“They dragged Finland into NATO. Have you had any arguments with them? “All disputes, including territorial disputes from the mid20th century, were settled a long time ago,” Putin told state television.
“There were no problems, now there will be problems,” he said, announcing that a new military district would be created in the northwest, which would be called “Leningrad,” like one of the regions bordering Finland.
Russia made the announcement after Finland closed its entire border with Russia again this week. His government accuses Moscow of orchestrating a migration crisis after the number of illegal immigrants increased.
After Finland joined NATO, Russia promised a response.
Putin said Russia has “no interest, geopolitical, economic or military,” in fighting the countries that make up NATO, an alliance led by the United States.
US President Joe Biden said this week that Putin “will not stop” in Ukraine if the offensive is successful. The military operation launched by Russia in Ukraine sparked fears in the countries on the organization's eastern flank.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg echoed the same sentiments this week, warning that if Putin wins in Ukraine “there is a real danger that his aggression will not end there.”