The “advanced nuclear deterrent” proposed by France to its European allies, and which Finland has decided to join, presents a “risk” for Moscow, the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy declared on Tuesday. “We describe this French initiative, to put it mildly and with a lot of diplomacy, as imprudent. Of course, this creates risks for us,” said Maria Zakharova.
Known for her anti-West rhetoric, she added that installing a French nuclear device closer to Russia’s borders would only make it “easier” for the Russian military to strike in the event of a conflict. Referring to the “myth of a Russian threat”, she also called on Western countries to “take a lucid look at the world and take our warnings very seriously”.
Finland, neighboring Russia, has decided to join the “advanced nuclear deterrent” proposed by France, becoming the 10th European partner to join the initiative launched at the start of the year by Emmanuel Macron. In a joint statement published Monday, the two countries announced that “a nuclear steering group will be established in the coming months to begin the implementation of this cooperation.” At the same time, Estonia, another country bordering Russia, announced on Monday that it was “in discussions” with France on possible participation in this initiative. While France is the only European country equipped with atomic weapons with the United Kingdom, the “advanced deterrence” initiative aims to involve other willing European states, in particular through exercises and strategic consultations, but without any sharing of the ultimate decision.
