Russia will need to strengthen its western military district now that Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Finland has a long land border with northwest Russia.

Putin also said during his annual address to Russia's parliament that anybody who tried to invade Russia would face harsher consequences than in World War Two because the country now had weapons that could hit targets on enemy territory. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin Writing by Olzhas Auyezov Editing by Gareth Jones)