Russia says northern Europe's security to weaken after Finland's accession to NATO

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday that northern Europe's security will weaken after Finland's accession to NATO.

Finland and Sweden fell victim to the "Russophobic frenzy" and could not put their own interests above the interests of the "collective West," Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian Rossiya 24 TV channel.

The diplomat warned that in response to NATO's expansion, Moscow will take "compensatory measures," including in the military and technical field.

Moscow will not hurry with the retaliatory steps, will work them out and make them public "at the right moment," he noted.

The official, referring to statements by some Western politicians who expect that Russia will not respond, said: "They are deeply mistaken. The reaction will follow."

"I emphasize that we have both military resources and political will, we have determination, our society is consolidated in positions of guaranteed protection of our sovereignty, repelling any threats, preventing encroachments on our territorial integrity," he stressed.

The deputy foreign minister said the decision to deploy nuclear carriers and tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus was a "natural response" to the growing challenges and risks.

"Our opponents just have to clearly understand what is happening around them, not to escalate, not to provoke us. Because the matter may end up with such twists, which now, in principle, we can only talk about hypothetically," he said.

Ryabkov regretted that the West ignored the possibility of building a "guaranteed system on international security."

There should be no illusions about Russia's capabilities, the country has a "very wide range of means" to ensure its own security "in any situation, at any turn," he added.

After suspending the New START (Strategic Nuclear Arms Treaty) in February, Moscow got additional means for protection, he said.

"The element of nuclear deterrence has always been present and is now present in our system of military planning measures and in general in the concept of deterring our opponents," he noted.

The official said that considering "the hybrid war" that is being waged against Russia that has no analogs in the past, Moscow cannot just indifferently observe what is happening.

Ryabkov condemned the UK's intentions to supply Ukraine with ammunition, containing depleted uranium, saying one of the reasons for sending them is to intimidate Russia.

"In the end, it will turn against its (UK's) own interests. We will not allow any defeat of Russia. And all the goals of the special military operation, of course, indisputably, will be achieved," he stressed.

Ryabkov described the Russia-US relations as a "crash," saying "relations are destroyed, the responsibility for this lies with the US."

Finland officially joined NATO on Tuesday as Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto handed the signed accession treaty to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.