“Finland's bid to join NATO is a hostile move that definitely posed a threat to its security,” Peskov told reporters.

“Apart from creating threats to Russia, NATO's expansion eastward would not contribute to security in Eurasia,” Peskov added.

On Thursday, Finland President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin issued a joint statement, stating that the country will apply to join NATO “without delay.”

“Finland must apply for NATO membership without delay. We hope that the national steps still needed to make this decision will be taken rapidly within the next few days,” the statement read.

In December 2021, the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs pressured Finland and Sweden to refrain from joining NATO.

Russia claims that NATO's persistent invitations for the two countries to join the military alliance would have major political and military consequences which would threaten stability in the Nordic region.

Furthermore, Russia sees Finland's inclusion in NATO as a threat to Russian national security since the United States would likely be able to deploy military equipment in Finland if the country were to join NATO.

However, on January 1, Finland's president, Sauli Niinistö, reasserted Finnish sovereignty by stating that the Finnish government reserved the right to apply for NATO membership.

Furthermore, Niinistö said that Russian demands threaten the "European security order".

Additionally, he believes that transatlantic cooperation is needed for the maintenance of sovereignty and security of some EU member states, including Finland.

In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, support among the Finnish populace for NATO membership has risen. (ILKHA)