And in a speech on the 80th day of the war in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "The collective West has announced a total hybrid war on us.
"It is difficult to forecast how long this will all last, but it is clear that the consequences will be felt by everybody without exception."
Finland and Sweden's attempts to join NATO met a burden when Turkish President Erdogan said he could not back their access bids because of Kurdish terrorist organisations operating in the Nordic countries.
A CRYING SHAME: PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS FORCE USC TO CANCEL PRIMARY GRADUATION EVENT
All 30 NATO member states must sign off on each new entrant.
Erdogan's top foreign policy advisor explained today that the country is "not closing the door" on the countries' bids.
Ibrahim Kalin: "We are not closing the door. But we are basically raising this issue as a matter of national security for Turkey."
AMERICA'S BIRTHRATE CONTINUES TO PLUMMET - ARE MILLENNIALS TRADING DIAPERS FOR DEGREES?
The Kremlin attack dog added: "We've done everything to avoid a direct clash but the challenge has been thrown to us and we accept it. Cancel culture against everything Russia is being used against us."
REPUBLICAN SENATORS EXPOSE DARK SIDE OF 'FOOD DELIVERY' ECONOMICS
"We are doing everything we can to defend the interests of our citizens abroad. Ukraine is an instrument, a tool, to contain Russia's peaceful development," he said.
As U.S. President Joe Biden held a joint call with Finland's leaders on Friday to back their NATO application, Russian officials responded with furious bluster, with one threatening to lower the U.S. to "nuclear ashes" if America "threatens" the Russian state.
ARE THERE MORE? 'GILGO BEACH' MURDERS CASE EXPANDS WITH NEW SEARCH
"The West is opposing Russia to the last Ukrainian, especially the United States which is [fighting] from beyond the ocean," said Lavrov.
"Now [Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg, through the mouth of Liz Truss, says NATO has responsibility for global security issues."
HARVEY WEINSTEIN'S CONVICTION OVERTURNED IN NEW YORK! WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE DISGRACED MOVIE MOGUL?
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said his conversation with Putin was "conducted without aggravation" as both parties worked to "avoid tensions."
Russia's attack on Ukraine and cyber-attacks on Finland and Sweden have 'altered the security environment" in Helsinki, Putin was told.
SEE TO BELIEVE: COMING SOON TO A KID'S DRAG SHOW NEAR YOU...(WATCH)
According to a Russian readout of the call, Putin said: "Abandoning the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake, since there are no threats to Finland's security."
It wasn't revealed how long the call went on or whether Niinisto had conferred with other world leaders before talking with Putin.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT THROWS WEIGHT BEHIND TEXAS REP. AMIDST PARTY INFIGHTING
A senior Putin ally threatened to fire nuclear weapons at Britain, asserting it would take just three minutes.
MSNBC'S CHRIS HAYES DELETED TWEET SPARKS A SH*T SHOW
Finland, whose President today called Putin to announce his plans to join NATO, would be annihilated in seconds, Duma defense committee deputy chairman Aleksey Zhuravlyov boasted.
Zhuravlyov's wild threats signal frustrations at Putin's stuttering invasion of Ukraine - and rage at Finland's NATO bid.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
