Finland's plan to lift a ban on nuclear arms transit raises tensions and threatens Russia's security, the Kremlin has said

Russia could be forced to take retaliatory measures if Finland proceeds with plans to lift a ban on the transit and storage of nuclear weapons, the Kremlin has warned, describing the move as a direct threat to national security.

On Thursday, the Finnish government announced it would seek to amend its Nuclear Energy Act and Criminal Code to remove legal barriers to importing or hosting nuclear devices for defense purposes, with plans to implement the legislation by summer.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded sharply on Friday, telling reporters that such steps "lead to an escalation of tensions on the European continent." He warned that "by deploying nuclear weapons on its territory, Finland is beginning to threaten us. And if Finland threatens us, we take appropriate measures." Peskov also claimed that Helsinki's statements merely add to Finland's vulnerability. 

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has sought to downplay the significance of the legislative change, stating that "Finland does not want to have nuclear weapons on its territory, and there are no such plans in NATO." The Defense Ministry similarly argued that the amendment does not mean Finland will seek to host nuclear arms, but rather aims to remove legal obstacles to full participation in NATO's framework.

Finland shares a 1,340 km border with Russia and ended decades of military non-alignment by joining NATO in April 2023, following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Since then, Moscow has stated that Helsinki's accession had "reduced relations to zero."

The move comes amid broader European discussions on nuclear deterrence. French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this week that France is entering a period of "advanced nuclear deterrence," with plans to increase its warhead count and conduct joint exercises with Germany, Britain, and several Nordic countries.

Russia has stressed that it poses no threat to any European country, but has warned that it will aim its nuclear arsenal at countries that host nuclear weapons directed at Russia.