<p>Russia's foreign ministry on Friday warned of unspecified "consequences" should Finland and Sweden join the US-led NATO defence alliance, after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.</p>.<p>Moscow's military actions in Ukraine have sparked a dramatic U-turn in public and political opinion in both Finland and Sweden over long-held policies of military non-alignment.</p>.<p>Finland said this week it will decide whether to apply for NATO membership within weeks, and Sweden is also discussing joining the alliance.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-would-deploy-nuclear-arms-near-finland-sweden-if-they-join-nato-1100682.html" target="_blank">Russia 'would deploy nuclear arms' near Finland, Sweden if they join NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>"The choice is up to the authorities of Sweden and Finland. But they should understand the consequences of such a step for our bilateral relations and for the architecture of European security as a whole," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.</p>.<p>She added that Sweden and Finland's membership in NATO is "unlikely to contribute to strengthening (their) international prestige".</p>.<p>Zakharova said that the non-alignment policy of the two countries "provided a reliable level of security", while membership in a military alliance is "not capable of strengthening their national security".</p>.<p>"They will automatically find themselves on the NATO frontline," Zakharova said.</p>.<p>Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday that Russia would deploy nuclear weapons close to the three Baltic states and Scandinavia if Finland or Sweden decided to join.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>Russia's foreign ministry on Friday warned of unspecified "consequences" should Finland and Sweden join the US-led NATO defence alliance, after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine.</p>.<p>Moscow's military actions in Ukraine have sparked a dramatic U-turn in public and political opinion in both Finland and Sweden over long-held policies of military non-alignment.</p>.<p>Finland said this week it will decide whether to apply for NATO membership within weeks, and Sweden is also discussing joining the alliance.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-would-deploy-nuclear-arms-near-finland-sweden-if-they-join-nato-1100682.html" target="_blank">Russia 'would deploy nuclear arms' near Finland, Sweden if they join NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>"The choice is up to the authorities of Sweden and Finland. But they should understand the consequences of such a step for our bilateral relations and for the architecture of European security as a whole," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.</p>.<p>She added that Sweden and Finland's membership in NATO is "unlikely to contribute to strengthening (their) international prestige".</p>.<p>Zakharova said that the non-alignment policy of the two countries "provided a reliable level of security", while membership in a military alliance is "not capable of strengthening their national security".</p>.<p>"They will automatically find themselves on the NATO frontline," Zakharova said.</p>.<p>Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned Thursday that Russia would deploy nuclear weapons close to the three Baltic states and Scandinavia if Finland or Sweden decided to join.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>