Finland's parliament has approved legislative amendments that lift the ban on the import, production, storage and use of nuclear weapons within the country.
This follows the results of the legislative body's vote. A total of 125 deputies voted in favor of legislative changes, 61 voted against, and 13 were absent from the vote. In early March, Defense Minister Antti Hakanen stated that these changes were only necessary for "defense-related" situations, while the import and storage of nuclear weapons would presumably remain prohibited in other cases.
Finland's initiative to allow the import and storage of nuclear weapons has provoked a sharp reaction from Moscow. Russian officials warned that such moves would factor into military planning and could increase risks for Helsinki.
