NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg indicated that Finland’s accession to NATO today, Tuesday, will be a historic event and a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He added that the alliance will work to ensure that Sweden also achieves full membership. Stoltenberg stated to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers that "Russian President Vladimir Putin had a stated goal for invading Ukraine, which was to reduce NATO." He continued, "He has achieved exactly the opposite; Finland will become a full member of the alliance today, and Sweden will soon follow."
In response to Finland's NATO membership, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will need to take "countermeasures." Peskov added that NATO's expansion, which Moscow has criticized repeatedly, represents "an encroachment on our security and national interests," indicating that Moscow will closely monitor any military deployments by NATO in Finland.
Moscow stated on Monday that it would enhance its military capabilities in the west and northwest in response to Finland's NATO membership.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu viewed Finland's accession to NATO and the military alliance's move to increase combat readiness as raising the risks of conflict. Shoigu noted that some military aircraft from Belarus are now capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and that Iskander missile systems have been transferred to Belarus, remarking that these systems can be used to carry conventional or nuclear missiles.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak welcomed Finland's NATO membership, stating on Telegram, "Finland has made the right choice." He pointed out that NATO is also a key goal for Ukraine’s accession.
