Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened Thursday that if Finland or Sweden joined NATO, Russia would install nuclear weapons near them.

Medvedev, former president and deputy head of Russia’s security council, remarked on Telegram that joining would more than treble Russia’s land border with NATO members.

“Naturally, we will have to reinforce these borders,” he stated. “In this case, it would not be possible to talk any more about the Baltic non-nuclear status. The balance has to be restored,” he stated, implying Russia may use nuclear weapons in the region.

“In this case, it would not be possible to talk any more about the Baltic non-nuclear status. The balance has to be restored,” he stated, implying Russia may use nuclear weapons in the region.

The former president said Russia would “seriously reinforce its group of ground forces and air defences and deploy significant naval forces in the Gulf of Finland.”

On journalists’ comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said “this has been talked many times” and President Vladimir Putin has ordered “reinforcing our western flank” due to NATO’s rising military might.

When asked if this reinforcement included nukes, Peskov said:”I can’t say… There will be a whole list of measures, necessary steps. This will be covered at a separate meeting by the president.”

Moscow’s military activities in Ukraine have triggered a radical shift in popular and political opinion in Finland and Sweden.

Finland indicated this week it will decide on NATO membership in the next weeks, while Sweden is also considering it.

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