Putin faces 'nukes on his doorstep' as NATO country lifts long-standing weapons ban

Russia could now have nuclear weapons on its doorstep after a NATO ally changed its rules on weapons of mass destruction.

Lawmakers in Finland on Wednesday, June 17, voted to lift the country's longstanding ban on nuclear weapons, allowing for the import, transport, supply, and possession of nuclear arms on its territory when necessary.

The Finnish government has said the country has no plans to host nuclear weapons at this time.

The country abandoned its longstanding stance of military neutrality after Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The decision to allow for nuclear weapons marks a major shift in Helsinki's security strategy as it tries to strengthen ties with its NATO allies against Russia.

Finland shares an 810-mile border with Russia, and the move to allow for nuclear weapons has worried the Russian leader.

According to Nexta TV, Putin has claimed that Finland planned to snatch part of Russia.

"What did Finland join NATO for? Did we have any territorial disputes with Finland? No! Everything had long been settled," Putin reportedly said.

"Why did they join NATO then? In the hope that everything here would collapse, and they'd swoop in and grab what they could."

"They're already building a border along the Sestra River."

The change in the law was designed as a deterrent in an uncertain security environment, the Finnish government has said.

"With this proposal, we are strengthening Finland's defence and enabling the full use of Nato's nuclear deterrent as protection for Finland," Antti Hakkanen, the Finnish defence minister, said on X.

Just days earlier Putin's military build-up along Russia's borders with NATO countries was revealed.

Satellite images released by Denmark's national broadcaster show new barracks, warehouses, and army vehicles being constructed over the past two years.

It has been reported that the Murmansk area, near Finland and Norway, could now house 17,000 extra soldiers in striking range of neighbours, while another site near the Estonian border has amassed large numbers of military vehicles.

Russia has denied any plans to attack NATO countries.

Former intelligence officer Philip Ingram said the build-up is part of a long game by the Kremlin.

"The preparation of these bases is to do two things," Ingram said.

"Firstly, to respond to the expansion of NATO by suggesting a real capability to threaten NATO's borders over a very long front."

"Secondly, to set the condition that, if Putin gets to a point where the Ukraine war is finished, he can rapidly rearm and deploy to actually threaten NATO's borders."

"This is preparation for a second Cold War."