Russia has warned NATO that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad should any members of the military bloc try to cut off its western exclave from the rest of the country.
The warning sent to NATO echoed statements issued by several Russian embassies in Europe this week which said that Moscow has “information that NATO is preparing (an) air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region.”
NATO slams ‘irresponsible’ nuclear rhetoric
“There should be no mistake — Russia would be ready to use all its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” the Russian Embassy in Ireland said in its statement on Tuesday. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” she said in a statement. Western military officers have said that key military installations in Kaliningrad would be a likely first target should Russia ever launch an attack on any NATO ally. Asked Wednesday about Russia’s warning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed to what he said were “rampant statements” from Poland and other European nations regarding Kaliningrad. “It’s only natural that our diplomats are trying to remind the hotheads in Europe about our policy documents regarding this matter,” Peskov said in a call with reporters. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that he believes the rising number of incidents shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin is losing the war, now in its fifth year, and that the best way to respond is to give more weapons to Kyiv.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed on Wednesday that Russia had sent a written message to the US-led military alliance.
