Senior Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov expressed concerns over Finland's decision to join the US-led NATO alliance, emphasizing the potential risks to the Nordic nation's security.

Ulyanov argued that Finland, due to its geography, is at the forefront of any hypothetical conflict between NATO and Russia.

Finland, traditionally known for its policy of neutrality during the Cold War, departed from its historical stance by seeking NATO membership following the war in Ukraine last year. The Finnish government cited the need for mutual defense protection as a crucial factor in its decision to join the military alliance.

Ulyanov, who represents Moscow at various international organizations in Vienna, however, cautioned against the perceived benefits of NATO membership for Finland.

"Suddenly it became part of the alliance neighboring us. But if, God forbid, some escalation happens, Finland will be the first to suffer," he said, underscoring the undesirability of such a scenario for Russia.

Finland officially became a NATO member in April and subsequently strengthened its ties with the United States by signing a bilateral security agreement this month.

The agreement includes provisions granting American troops access to military bases on Finnish soil, a move that Ulyanov described as a "serious challenge" for Russia.

In response to the heightened security concerns along its western border, he said, Russia announced the revival of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts, previously disbanded in 2010 during a period of reduced tensions with the West.

US main beneficiary

While discussing the broader geopolitical landscape, Ulyanov lamented the strained relationship between Russia and the United States. He attributed the current state of affairs to what he perceived as Washington's policy of sidelining diplomacy in favor of massive arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"I believe it is becoming increasingly obvious that the current [US] policy, which is based on the one hand on sending diplomacy into oblivion, and on the other hand on massive arms deliveries [to Ukraine] is not working," Ulyanov said, expressing his concern about the impact of the conflict on European nations, particularly Germany.

Ulyanov asserted that the United States has been the primary beneficiary of the Ukraine war, while European Union nations, including Germany, have suffered as a result. He further suggested that Brussels' policy is influenced by Washington, a situation he believes is unlikely to change in the near future.

The NATO membership bids of Sweden and Finland received swift approval from all NATO members, excluding Turkey and Hungary. Despite initial reluctance, Turkey and Hungary eventually acquiesced, and Finland became NATO's 31st member in April.

The Kremlin has pledged that Russia will never yield to Western pressure regarding the situation in Ukraine, asserting that Russians are facing unjust discrimination in Western countries amid a surge of Russophobia.