Putin To Take Measures If Finland, Sweden Join NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin will take measures to bolster Russia's security if Finland or Sweden joins NATO.

Russia's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday as his comments come after Dmitry Medvedev, one of Putin's closest allies, warned NATO that Russia would have to bolster its defenses in the region if Finland and Sweden joins.

Finland will decide on whether to apply to join the NATO alliance in the next few weeks, Prime Minister Sanna Marin had earlier told reporters in Sweden's capital Stockholm on Wednesday.

In a statement, Marin said in a joint news conference with her Swedish counterpart Magdalena Andersson; "There are different perspectives to apply for NATO membership or not to apply and we have to analyze these very carefully.

"But I think our process will be quite fast, it will happen in weeks."