Russia criticized on Tuesday a French nuclear deterrence initiative that seeks to incorporate European countries into a security scheme backed by the French nuclear arsenal. The Russian Foreign Ministry classified the French policy as "imprudent" and said it creates "risks" for Moscow.
The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said that the initiative is creating risks for Russia and that the country needs to "keep this under control." The statement was made in response to Finland's announcement of adhesion to the French initiative.
Finland, which has a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, announced the day before its adhesion to the French nuclear deterrence initiative. The Finnish government stated that the proposal "reinforces Europe's responsibility for its own defense and helps prevent escalation." Under the plan, France intends to extend its nuclear deterrence capability to include partner European countries.
