NNA - Russia warned Thursday it would have to take "military-technical" steps in response to neighboring Finland joining NATO, after leaders in Helsinki backed entering the US-led alliance. 

"The expansion of NATO and the approach of the alliance to our borders does not make the world and our continent more stable and secure," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 

When asked whether Finland's membership would be a threat, Peskov answered: "definitely".

"Everything will depend on how this process takes place, how far the military infrastructure will move towards our borders," he said.

Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow would be "forced to take reciprocal steps, military-technical and other, to address the resulting threats to its national security". --AFP

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