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Russia has told Sweden and Finland that it would make no difference if they join NATO.

NATO, which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European states, the United States and Canada.

The two nations are in the final stage of the plans to join NATO and Russia believes that NATO has already taken into account the territories of the two nations in its military plans for eastward expansion for years now.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, noted that Finland, Sweden as well as some other neutral nations have for years participated in NATO’s military exercises.

NATO has taken their territories into account in planning its eastward movement,” Lavrov said on Tuesday, state news agency TASS reported, CNN reports.

“In this context it apparently makes no difference any more,” he said.

The Minister went on to add that his country will observe how NATO uses the territories of Finland and Sweden and “make its conclusions.”