 Kremlin announces rising risk of Russia NATO clash in Baltic region. Moscow believes it is premature to discuss the possible threat of nuclear weapons being deployed in Finland, but it is closely monitoring official comments and the security situation. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with Izvestia newspaper. Furthermore, the diplomat stated that Helsinki's armed forces are being actively upgraded and the risks of a collision between Russian and NATO forces are rising. Unfortunately, the dangers are growing. Everyone understands this. If we look at the development of the security situation in the Baltic region in recent years, this is just a very good example of how the calmest region in political and military terms has been transformed into a zone of military rivalry by the joint efforts of NATO. Grushko said after the Baltic states were admitted into the alliance, NATO began in a very consistent step-by-step manner to transform this most peaceful region into a zone of heightened military activity, he added. Grushko noted that Russia needs to build up its defense infrastructure along its borders with Finland and that certain decisions in this regard have already been approved. We will closely monitor any changes in the configuration of the armed forces based within Finland, he said. Finland's accession to NATO will fuel the North Atlantic Alliance's aggressive ambitions in far northern Europe and the Arctic, undermining the entire premise of constructive international cooperation in these regions, the diplomat believes.