In a recent interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a warning regarding potential challenges with neighboring Finland in the wake of its NATO accession earlier this year. Putin announced that Moscow would respond by establishing a new military district in the northwest region of Russia.

In a statement to a state TV reporter, Putin stated, "The West dragged Finland into NATO. Did we have any disputes with them? All disputes, including territorial ones in the mid-20th century, have long been solved."

Putin declared, "There were no problems there; now there will be because we will create the Leningrad military district and concentrate a certain amount of military units there."

Finland, with a shared border spanning 1,340 kilometers (830 miles) with Russia, became a NATO member in April this year amidst Moscow's Ukraine offensive. Putin's comments follow Finland's recent decision to close its border with Russia this week, denouncing Moscow for orchestrating a migrant crisis on its border.

Moscow has issued a preemptive warning of retaliatory measures in response to Helsinki's NATO accession. Putin further asserted that Russia has no grounds for conflict with NATO countries, following United States President Joe Biden's statement that Moscow "won't stop" in Ukraine if successful there.

Putin dismissed Biden's words as "rhetoric to justify a misguided policy on Russia," emphasizing that Moscow has "no interest, either in geopolitical, economic, or military terms, to engage in conflict with NATO countries." The Kremlin's Ukraine campaign has reignited concerns about Russian aggression in the eastern flank of NATO.

Finland's Interior Minister has officially announced the re-closure of the country's border with Russia, citing a surge in migrant crossings that Helsinki has characterized as a hybrid attack orchestrated by Moscow. Two border crossing points in southeastern Finland were reopened leading to at least 40 people crossing into Finland to seek asylum, according to the Finnish border guard.

"The number of migrants increased rapidly, and the phenomenon accelerated faster than expected," stated Interior Minister Rantanen. Arthur Parfenchikov, the governor of Karelia, the Russian region bordering Finland, confirmed that "there are groups of migrants among the people wishing to cross the border." He further added, "The others are allowed to pass through the checkpoint in small groups."

Image source: CNN