Russia warns of nuclear build-up if Finland and Sweden join Nato

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies warned Nato on Thursday that if Sweden and Finland joined the US-led military alliance then Russia would deploy nuclear weapons and hypersonic missiles in an exclave in the heart of Europe.
 

Finland, which shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border with Russia, and Sweden are considering joining the Nato alliance.
 

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said, “There can be no more talk of any nuclear-free status for the Baltic — the balance must be restored”.
 

President Vladimir Putin said  that Moscow would work to redirect its energy exports eastward as Europe