Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has urged Finland not to join NATO, saying that the move would provoke a Russian military 'response,' the TASS news agency reported Monday.
?€?We do not believe that our Finnish neighbors would be tempted to join in with anti-Russian activity," Lavrov said.
?€?It is purely a military and a technical issue. If an organization that presents itself as your opponent moves its infrastructure to your borders, then you must react,?€? he said.
Lavrov's words echoed Russian president Vladimir Putin's speech on Friday. Putin said that Russia valued Finland's ?€?neutral status?€? and had moved Russian troops away from the border as a sign of respect.
?€?We will respect any choice of the Finnish people,?€? Putin said. ?€?But do you think we will continue to act in the same way [if Finland joins NATO?] We have withdrawn our troops to a distance of 1500 kilometers from the border. Do you think they will stay there??€? he said.
Relations with Russia are thought to be high on the agenda at the upcoming biennial NATO summit in Warsaw from 8 to 9 July The Finnish president?€™s office Monday confirmed that Finland?€™s president, defense minister and foreign minister will all attend the summit.