Russia Threatens Retaliation as Finland Prepares Bid to Join NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) speaks with his press secretary Dmitry Peskov (2nd R) in a file photo. Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

Russian officials on May 12 threatened to take action if Finland is successful in its bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“Finland joining NATO will seriously harm bilateral Russian-Finnish relations and the maintenance of stability and security in the North European region,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to state-run media.