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Russian defence minister says Finland joining NATO raises risk of conflict
Shoigu also said that some Belarusian military jets were now capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that Iskander rocket systems had been transferred to Belarus, which could be used to carry conventional or nuclear missiles.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu tour a military gear exhibition before the annual meeting of the Defence Ministry board in Moscow on December 21, 2021.
(AFP/Mikhail METZEL / SPUTNIK )
R
ussian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Finland's accession to the NATO military alliance and NATO's move to increase its own combat-readiness increased the risk of conflict.
Shoigu also said that some Belarusian military jets were now capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that Iskander rocket systems had been transferred to Belarus, which could be used to carry conventional or nuclear missiles.
Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Finland's accession to NATO later on Tuesday will be a historic event and direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adding the alliance would ensure that Sweden will also become a full-fledged member.
"(Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin had as a declared goal of the invasion of Ukraine to get less NATO," he told reporters ahead of a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers.
"He is getting exactly the opposite... Finland today, and soon also Sweden will become a full fledged member of the alliance," he said.
