SRINAGAR: Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow could deploy its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Kaliningrad or other Russian territory comes under direct attack, while saying Russia has no plans to attack European countries.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said any direct attack on Russia would put the use of all weapons available to the country “on the agenda”. His remarks came amid heightened tensions between Moscow and Nato over military activity in the Baltic region.
Putin said Russia viewed successive military exercises in the Baltic Sea and what he described as attempts to intercept Russian vessels as escalation. He also referred to statements concerning the Kaliningrad region.
Nato said Russia had sent a written warning to the alliance over the issue. Nato spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance rejected threats of force, including what she described as irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, while stressing that Nato was a defensive alliance and was not targeting Kaliningrad.
Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea situated between Nato members Poland and Lithuania. The heavily militarised territory is strategically important to Moscow because of its military infrastructure and location in the Baltic region.
The warnings come against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and increased Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, including oil infrastructure.
Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries had affected the Russian economy, saying the attacks had reduced Russia’s gross domestic product by about 1 per cent. Ukraine has described its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as part of efforts to reduce Moscow’s revenues and military capacity.
Putin’s latest warning follows earlier Russian diplomatic statements alleging that Nato could seek to isolate Kaliningrad. Nato has rejected that characterisation and said its activities and exercises do not pose a threat to Russian territory.
Tensions surrounding Kaliningrad have increased since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Nato strengthening its eastern flank and expanding military activity in the Baltic region.
