WW3 fears erupt as ex-Russian president issues chilling threat to major European country

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has issued chilling threats to a country in Europe (Image: Getty)

A major European country and NATO member has been accused of "Russophobia" and has been sent chilling threats by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Vladimir Putin's right-hand man and longtime confidant, who served as President between 2008 and 2012 and Prime Minister between 2012 and 2020, and is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to comments by Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

In his New Year's address to the people of Finland, Mr Stubb said his country's relations with Russia had changed forever as a result of its war with Ukraine. He stressed that Russia is waging an "aggressive war" against Ukraine and that Moscow's actions are "illegal and immoral", expressing doubt that Russia is ready for peace. "Peace is often a compromise. "We must be prepared to accept that some parts of a possible peace agreement may not be in line with our sense of justice," he said. He went on to pledge to do "everything possible" to preserve Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said relations with Russia have changed forever (Image: Getty)

"We will continue to support Ukraine. We will continue to seek solutions. Together with our allies, we will do everything we can to ensure that Russia never attacks any of its neighbours again," he added.

However, on January 2, Medvedev posted on X: "Some guy called Stubb says Finland’s relations with Russia have changed forever. Agreed. I hope so too. I hope Russia never repeats the Bolsheviks’ 1917 blunder."

In 1917, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia created a power vacuum, which enabled Finland, a Russian Grand Duchy at the time, to declare independence and was later recognised by Lenin's Bolshevik Government.

This triggered the Finnish Civil War (January to May 1918), during which Bolsheviks supported the Finnish Red Guards (socialists) against the conservative White forces, led by Carl Gustaf Mannerheim. The latter ultimately won with German backing, establishing an independent, non-socialist Finland.

"Finland’s got to pay for its vile Russophobia," Medvedev continued. "In fact, it’s already paying - Stubb talks, and citizens foot the bill."

Last year, Medvedev issued threats against countries that recently joined NATO, claiming they have automatically become targets for the Russian armed forces, "including potential retaliatory strikes and even nuclear components". Medvedev said that countries such as Finland and Sweden, before joining NATO, enjoyed "certain international privileges due to their geopolitical position and many other factors".

"But now they are part of a bloc hostile to us, which means they have automatically become targets for our armed forces, including potential retaliatory strikes and even a nuclear component, or preventive measures within the framework of military doctrine," Medvedev stated. "They have simply ended up in the crosshairs of our armed forces. Has life become better for them? No! These are political games."

Meanwhile, Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, said that the "provocateur countries" - Poland and the Baltic states - should understand that they will be the first to suffer as a result of a possible NATO aggression against the Union State of Russia and Belarus.