Moscow will regard the deployment of nuclear weapons near the borders of Russia and Belarus as a direct threat requiring compensatory countermeasures. Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, said this in an interview with RIA Novosti.

The diplomat warned that the appearance of nuclear weapons near the common defense space of the Union State of Russia and Belarus — whether in Finland or Poland — would be directly taken into account by Moscow in its military planning. According to him, such a move would not strengthen the security of the countries that decide to host such weapons.

Last week, the Finnish parliament approved amendments lifting the existing ban on the import, production, storage and use of nuclear weapons on the country’s territory.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris was entering a period of «advanced nuclear deterrence." Under this approach, France plans to increase the number of nuclear warheads, while European states will be able to take part in joint deterrence exercises.

According to Macron, eight European countries will join France’s nuclear «doctrine»: the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov previously warned that the current international situation carries the risk of a direct clash between NATO and Russia, which could quickly escalate into an exchange of nuclear strikes.