The worsening tension between Russia and the West witnessed a new escalation step on Tuesday, after the Lithuanian Parliament voted in the first reading on a law lifting the ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons in the country, paving the way for hosting American military bases and deploying missile systems carrying nuclear warheads there.
The Kremlin warned of a “dangerous escalation” that the development would bring, and promised corresponding measures, including placing Lithuanian territory within the targeting areas of the Russian nuclear system.
The Lithuanian government announced the launch of a path to lift the constitutional ban imposed on weapons of mass destruction on its territory at the beginning of 2027. The Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Južas Ulikas, said that the government is continuing to implement its plan to remove the ban imposed on weapons of mass destruction on its territory from the constitution at the beginning of 2027.
Parliament's vote was the first step in this path. It was voted on to amend the constitution and abolish legal restrictions on spreading or hosting nuclear weapons or mass destruction on the country’s territory. The decision is not effective immediately, as it requires completing constitutional procedures and holding a second and final round of voting after three months.
This trend comes in light of the escalating tensions on the eastern wing of NATO, and the Baltic states’ fears of the policies of Russia and Belarus, while Moscow, in return, says that the alliance is strengthening attempts to encircle it militarily and is preparing for a military confrontation with Russia in the future.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will have to “take all necessary measures to ensure its security in light of these plans.” He believed that the path that establishes the establishment of a US military base in Lithuania and lifting the ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons represents “a dangerous step towards escalating tensions.” He added that these measures will not contribute to achieving stability on the European continent.
“Ultimately, the military base is part of the military infrastructure,” Peskov said. If the military infrastructure of a major NATO country comes close to our borders, this can of course only be seen as a step towards escalating tensions. Just like spreading nuclear weapons on the territory of a neighboring country.” Russian media reported that the development pushes Russia to place Lithuanian territory within the scope of nuclear weapons targets.
In a parallel context, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow “is aware that NATO is preparing a war plan against Russia.” He added that his ministry is “monitoring the situation closely.”
In response to a request for comment on reports that NATO was preparing a plan in the event of a Russian attack, Lavrov said: “We are aware of this, we are following the matter with interest, and most importantly, we are working to implement the tasks set by the president within the framework of the special military operation, (the official name for the war), in order to prevent any threats that the Russian Federation may face from our western neighbors.”
However, the Russian minister indicated that the NATO leadership assured Moscow that there were no plans to attack Russia. He touched on previous threats directed at the Kaliningrad region by the Baltic states and other members of NATO.
He added that "the Baltic Basin countries and other members of NATO had made previous threats against the Kaliningrad region, and Russia issued a clear statement in response to that," referring to President Vladimir Putin's hint a few days ago that his country "will use all of its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if it is attacked in Kaliningrad or anywhere else."
The minister said: “They immediately began to reassure us - as did Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, and Mr. Whitaker, the US representative in Brussels to NATO - that (NATO) is not planning to attack Russia, and cannot plan to do so.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who began a visit to Iceland on Tuesday, considered that this island in the North Atlantic Ocean constitutes a “vital forward location” for security in light of the escalation of tensions in the region. Rubio said in a press conference that Iceland allowed US forces to use its lands, airspace and waters. He added: “It has thus provided us with a vital advanced location to monitor secret activities and deter our opponents from entering your sovereign territory and the sovereign territory of our mutual allies.”
At the start of a European tour, Rubio arrived in Iceland on Monday to continue strengthening the United States’ presence and interests in the Arctic region, two weeks after Washington concluded a security agreement on the island of Greenland.
The agreement put an end to a series of disputes and tensions between Washington and the European Union, in light of President Donald Trump’s threats to buy or even annex the region. Under the agreement, Washington intends to establish two new military bases in Greenland, which will make the autonomous Danish region consolidate its position in the American orbit, after Trump’s threats.
In addition, Moscow is closely monitoring NATO's movements and plans in other regions, including Central Asia, and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu confirmed on Tuesday that Western statements regarding the possibility of returning US and NATO military facilities to Afghanistan are "completely unacceptable." Shoigu said during his meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki in Moscow: “We consider the statements issued by the West regarding the possibility of the return of American and NATO military infrastructure and facilities to Afghanistan completely unacceptable. It seems that history has taught them nothing.”
Shoigu stressed that “the Russian-Afghan partnership is steadily strengthening in all areas, including security issues, political communication, and trade and economic cooperation.” Russia's official recognition of Afghanistan in July last year contributed to this. He added: “We hope that other countries will follow Russia’s example.” Moreover, almost all countries in the region are cooperating directly and effectively with the current Afghan leadership.”
Russia officially recognized the government of Afghanistan last year. The Taliban raised its flag over the Afghan Embassy building in Moscow for the first time since the movement came to power in 2021.
On the ground, Moscow announced that it responded to attacks by about 600 Ukrainian marches last night. The governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov, reported that a nighttime drone strike killed two civilians. He wrote on the Max platform: “In Paribino (Domodedovo), rescuers found the body of a 71-year-old man under the rubble of a destroyed house. A woman inside the house was also injured. It was also confirmed that a 20-year-old young man was killed in the village of Radomilia. Vorobyov pointed out that 47 homes were damaged in seven municipalities. The governor added, “Today’s (yesterday) attack on the region is considered one of the largest attacks ever.” According to Vorobyov, air defenses shot down 185 drones over the Moscow region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine is preparing countermeasures to confront Russia's preparations to carry out a large-scale attack, and is working to implement priority tasks in response to the Russian operation targeting the Ukrainian logistical infrastructure. Zelensky made these statements via the Telegram application, following a mobile conference with government officials, military leaders, and officials from other agencies, according to the Ukrainian National News Agency (Ukrinform).
Zelensky said: “Today we received updated intelligence information regarding Russia’s preparations to carry out a large-scale attack. We are preparing countermeasures. We have set deadlines for implementing a large part of the tasks, while the highest priority tasks are already being implemented.
