Russia will set up military units near Finland: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that Russia, which had good relationship with Finland, is forced to build up military units in the Leningrad Military District following Finland's joining NATO, reported Russian state-owned news agency TASS referring to a television interview.

"We had the friendliest, most cordial relations. There were no problems. Now there will be, because now we are going to create the Leningrad Military District and concentrate certain military units there," said the report, quoting Putin as saying in an interview with state run television Rossiya-1.

He also said that the West dragged Finland into NATO.

“Did we have any disputes with them?” said the Russian President, adding that all disputes, including territorial ones were solved many years alo.

Putin referred to US President Joe Biden's claims that Moscow may attack NATO as absurd and a figure of speech.

"This is absolutely absurd. I believe that President Biden is aware of this, this is merely a figure of speech to support his incorrect strategy against Russia," he told Rossiya-1 channel.

He added that Russia has no interest in fighting with NATO countries. In addition to saying that Moscow and the NATO members "have no territorial claims against each other," Putin also noted that Russia does not to "sour relations with them (NATO countries).