Ryabkov said the two countries’ security would not strengthen as a result of the move and that Moscow would take measures. “They should have no illusions that we will just put up with this,” he said.

Finland and Sweden are poised to jettison decades of military non-alignment to join NATO as a defence against feared aggression from Russia.

Moscow has warned Finland, with which it shares a 1,300 kilometre (800 mile) border, that it would take “reciprocal steps”.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto spoke with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Saturday about the country’s application for NATO membership. The Kremlin said Putin viewed any end to Finland’s military neutrality as a “mistake”.

Finland announced its intention to join NATO on Sunday as Sweden’s ruling party said it backed membership, paving the way for a joint application.