Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday that Russia would deploy nuclear weapons near the Baltic states and Scandinavia if Finland or Sweden resolve to hitch NATO.
Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's safety council and president from 2008 to 2012, wrote on Telegram that if the nations joined, it could greater than double Russia's land border with NATO members.
"Naturally, we should reinforce these borders," he stated.
"On this case, it could not be potential to speak any extra in regards to the Baltic non-nuclear standing. The stability must be restored," he stated, indicating that Russia can be entitled to deploy nuclear weapons within the area.
The previous president stated Russia would "severely reinforce its group of floor forces and air defenses and deploy important naval forces within the Gulf of Finland."
Medvedev is one in every of President Vladimir Putin's closest allies within the Kremlin, the Reuters information company factors out.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, requested by journalists in regards to the feedback, stated "this has been talked about many occasions," including that President Vladimir Putin has issued an order on "reinforcing our western flank" resulting from NATO's rising navy potential.
Requested if this reinforcement would come with nuclear weapons, Peskov stated: "I am unable to say. ... There will probably be a complete record of measures, mandatory steps. This will probably be lined at a separate assembly by the president."
Moscow's navy actions in Ukraine have sparked a dramatic U-turn in public and political opinion in each Finland and Sweden over long-held insurance policies of navy non-alignment.
Finland stated this week it'll resolve whether or not to use for NATO membership inside weeks, and Sweden can be discussing membership.