Russia highlights Finland's accession to French nuclear initiative

Moscow (ANTARA) - The Director of the European Affairs Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladislav Maslennikov, stated that the nuclear ambitions of Russia’s neighbouring countries in the Western region are causing concern, amidst Finland’s plans to join France’s nuclear deterrence initiative.

“Particular concern arises due to the attitude of our neighbouring countries in the Western Arctic, who are playing with nuclear weapons,” said Maslennikov during a briefing held on Friday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Arctic Council.

“The latest development in this bleak and seemingly prospectless landscape is Finland’s recent joining of France’s advanced nuclear deterrence initiative,” he added.

The diplomat noted that this move follows Finland’s decision to lift restrictions on the import of nuclear weapons during peacetime.

Currently, he continued, all Arctic nations in Europe are participating in the French initiative. He also added that Russia remains the only member of the Arctic Council that is not part of NATO.

The erosion of non-proliferation policies and measures that deliberately weaken them are reckless and extremely dangerous actions, the diplomat added.