1 / 9Russia has warned Monday against further expansion of NATO as Finland and Sweden consider joining it2 / 9Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the alliance remained “a tool of confrontation”.3 / 9Reports quoted Peskov as saying Monday, “We have repeatedly said that the alliance itself is more of a tool for confrontation. 4 / 9This is not an alliance that provides peace and stability, and further expansion of the alliance, of course, will not lead to more stability on the European continent.”5 / 9Peskov said last week that Russia would have to “rebalance the situation” with its own measures if Finland and Sweden joined the western alliance. 6 / 9 “We have to make our western flank more sophisticated in terms of ensuring our security,” Peskov told Britain’s Sky News.7 / 9A report published in The Times said the countries could join NATO as early as this summer.8 / 9Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia and its Prime Minister Sanna Marin expected to make a decision midsummer on whether to apply as a member, BBC reported.9 / 9. It is one of the six countries in Europe that has kept away from NATO. Sweden too has a history of neutrality in world politics.