President Vladimir Putin said Russia would respond to a direct attack on its territory with “all weapons” at its disposal, including potentially nuclear weapons, according to a report by Associated Press reporters.
Speaking at the Valdai Club forum, Putin said the warning issued by the Russian Embassy in Ireland about defending Kaliningrad was accurate. He said the question of using Russia’s full arsenal would arise “inevitably and immediately” if Nato countries attempted to isolate the Baltic exclave or attacked other Russian territory.
Putin did not specify whether Russia would use nuclear weapons. He said Moscow possessed weapons that “no one else has” and would determine which systems to use in the event of an attack.
The remarks followed warnings from Russian embassies in Europe that Nato was preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad. The embassies accused European leaders of playing a dangerous game by suggesting Russia could attack another country or intensify destabilising drone and sabotage operations. Moscow has described those allegations as absurd.
Nato spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed that Russia had sent a written message to the alliance and said Nato “strongly” denounced threats of force, including “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric”. She said Nato was not targeting Kaliningrad and described the alliance as defensive.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the bloc’s reply urged Russia to stop its “unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine”. He said Russia was trying to divide Nato members and shift attention away from support for Ukraine.
Kaliningrad lies between Nato members Poland and Lithuania and hosts Russia’s main Baltic naval base, other military assets and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles. Nato countries have conducted exercises in the Baltic region in recent months, with more planned for October, while Operation Baltic Sentry was launched last year to protect communication cables and pipelines.
European leaders and intelligence services have warned that Russia could be ready to attack another country within a few years, particularly if it wins its war in Ukraine. Putin reiterated Moscow’s position that Russia is not planning to attack European countries and said his remarks were a response to what he described as attempts to intimidate Russia.
