Finland who shares a 830 mile border with Russia will clarify their next steps over the possibility of joining NATO next week.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told reporters after meeting the NATO Foreign Minister’s in Brussels on Thursday.

Support for long neutral Finland for joining NATO has risen since neighbouring Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

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The Financial Times wrote, “Just four months ago, the idea of Finland joining NATO this year would have seemed far-fetched.

“Now, the prospect of Russia’s once-neutral neighbour applying to become a member of the western military alliance seems all but inevitable.”

Moscow has warned today that if Finland does join NATO then the Kremlin will retaliate which will mean the “destruction of their country.”

Vladimir Dzhabarov from Russia’s upper house, the Federation Council warned Helsinki it will be a “strategic mistake” if they join NATO.

Dzhabarov warned that if Finland joins NATO they will “become a target” which would be “a terrible tragedy for the entire Finnish people.”

He added, it is unlikely that “the Finns themselves will sign a card for the destruction of their country.”

However last month the majority (60%) of Finns backed joining NATO in a poll and the The National Coalition Party (NCP) also strongly backs NATO membership.