In light of Finland and Sweden's recent membership in the US-led alliance, Vladimir Putin has once again warned that Russia would retaliate in kind.

According to Russian news media, Putin stated that he could not rule out the possibility of problems arising in Moscow's relations with Stockholm and Helsinki over their decision to join Nato.

At a press conference in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, the Russian president said, 'We don't have problems with Sweden and Finland as we do with Ukraine.' 'There are no geographical issues between us.'

'Finland and Sweden are welcome to join. They can decide that. They are free to join anything they wish.

However, he has cautioned that after Finland and Sweden joined the alliance as its newest members, Russia will reciprocate any deployment of troops or infrastructure by NATO. 

'We don't have the issues with Sweden and Finland that we do with Ukraine. Let them join NATO if they so choose 'Putin said on state-run Russian television. 

According to Reuters, he continued, 'But they must understand there was no threat before; today, if military facilities and personnel are stationed there, we will have to respond in kind and generate the same risks for the regions from which threats towards us are made.

The 'severe military and political ramifications' of Finland and Sweden joining Nato had been frequently warned about by Russia, which threatened to 'establish military balance' by bolstering its defences in the Baltic Sea region, including by deploying nuclear weapons.

Nato's invitation to Finland and Sweden to join the alliance sparked an angry response from Russian officials, who labelled the move as 'destabilising' and likely to escalate tensions in the area.

According to Sergei Ryabkov, deputy foreign minister of Russia, 'We condemn the reckless course of the North Atlantic Alliance that is destroying the European architecture, or what's left of it.'

I seriously doubt that our northern European neighbours will experience peace in the ensuing decades, he continued.

Following a discussion at the NATO summit in Madrid, Turkey decided to terminate their objections, while Finland and Sweden were extended invitations to join the alliance. Tensions between the two countries and Russia are anticipated to result from the decision.

'When we were together, everything was good, but now there may or may not be tensions.

If we are in danger, it is unavoidable 'When questioned about the new NATO members, Putin stated.

Sweden and Finland's applications to join NATO were perceived as being directly related to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has led Russian neighbours to ask Nato for more security guarantees. The Baltic countries were terrified by the 'special military operations,' but Putin insisted that the objective was to 'liberate' and protect Russian interests in the area.

The 'accession of Finland and Sweden will make them (the allies) safer, Nato stronger, and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure,' according to a communiqué released during a Nato summit in Madrid.

Finland's prime minister said that her country was unlikely to join NATO even as Russian forces gathered on the Ukrainian border in February, as nations were considering the security dynamics of Europe. After three months and one invasion, Finland is hurdling into the alliance, marking a significant change for a country with a long history of remaining neutral during warfare and avoiding military partnerships.

The nation has so far refrained from joining such coalitions since it has always wished to preserve friendly ties with its neighbour, Russia. It was a question of survival for the Finns for a very long time to avoid NATO membership or too close ties to the West. However, it was the Russian invasion of Ukraine that caused a shift in public opinion and a resounding majority in favour of joining NATO.

President Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin both stated that the country's security and defence system will be strengthened by joining NATO. Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has been under fire from Niinisto for taking this bold stance. A day before the declaration, he stated, “You (Putin) caused this, look in the mirror.”

The nation has so far refrained from joining such coalitions since it has always wished to preserve friendly ties with its neighbour, Russia. It was a question of survival for the Finns for a very long time to avoid NATO membership or too close ties to the West. However, it was the Russian invasion of Ukraine that caused a shift in public opinion and a resounding majority in favour of joining NATO.

Following Finland's last call, Sweden also submitted the membership application. Sweden would have been the last Nordic nation outside of the NATO family if only Finland had joined. Sweden had been hostile to joining the organisation for ideological reasons, in contrast to Finland, whose policy stance was a question of survival.

Additionally, NATO has expressed interest in admitting Finland and Sweden. Normally, it takes up to a year to officially join NATO because it needs the consent of all current members. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, has promised that the countries can join fast and that comprehensive security provisions would be made by the organisation in the interim.

Finland's geographic location is advantageous since, after it joins, the length of Russia's border with NATO will double, strengthening the alliance's position in the Baltic Sea.

This has symbolic consequences as well, which cannot be disregarded. Russia will suffer a direct blow if more independent states join the west and boost its authority.