Finland lifts nuclear weapons ban, prompting sharp Russian threats

Finland approved amendments to its Nuclear Energy Act that will take effect on 1 July 2026, removing the Cold‑War‑era prohibition on nuclear weapons. The changes allow the import, transit, storage and handling of atomic warheads on Finnish territory and enable NATO’s nuclear deterrence to be deployed there. President Alexander Stubb signed the bill after support from Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen, noting that Finnish F‑35A fighters could carry B61 bombs and that the move completes Finland’s full integration into NATO’s security architecture.

Russia responded with heightened rhetoric, with State Duma deputy Aleksej Zhuravlev warning that Finland is becoming a “second Ukraine” and that Russia has enough concentrated military equipment “to destroy half of Finland.” Moscow said it would take “appropriate counter‑measures.” The Kremlin has also increased its troop presence near the Finnish border, expanding capacity for up to 80 000 soldiers. The same week, Finland announced a partnership with US defence contractor Lockheed Martin to build a missile‑system maintenance centre in Tampere, further deepening its ties with Western military suppliers.