Russia's Security Council chief Dmitry Medvedev threatened Finland and accused Helsinki of destroying bilateral relations, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The Kremlin official deployed rhetoric that mirrors Moscow's justifications for its invasion of Ukraine.
Medvedev targets Finland
In an interview, Russia's Security Council Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev implicitly threaten Finland, ISW reported on 2 February. The Security Council chief blamed Helsinki for ruining post-Soviet relations between the two countries. According to Medvedev, Finland "wiped out" decades of positive ties that had developed since 1991. The Kremlin official conveniently ignored Russia's own aggressive actions that pushed Helsinki into NATO's arms in 2023.
Soviet "crushing" and Lenin's "gift" — threats wrapped in history
Medvedev delivered his threats through historical references. He warned Helsinki not to "joke" about relations with Moscow. The Security Council chief stated that the USSR "crushed" Finland during World War II when it fought alongside Nazi Germany. He claimed that 20th-century conflicts did not end in Finland's "favor."
Medvedev also demanded gratitude. He insisted Finland should "thank" Vladimir Lenin — a reference to the Bolshevik leader's 1917 recognition of Finnish independence, ISW noted.
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Russia recycling its Ukraine playbook
This rhetoric follows a familiar pattern, ISW observed. Putin and other Kremlin officials have previously threatened Finland using language that echoes Moscow's justifications for invading Ukraine.
"Russian officials’ narratives about Finland have long invoked historic Finnish-Russian ties and Finland’s history as a Nazi ally during the Second World War," ISW wrote.
However, ISW considers a full-scale Russian invasion of Finland unlikely at present:
"Medvedev’s statements are likely part of the Kremlin’s long-term cognitive warfare campaign to create justifications for a possible conflict with NATO in the future," the think tank says.
