Russia threatens NATO with nuclear weapons over Kaliningrad

Moscow. Russia has threatened to use nuclear weapons against NATO if the military alliance tries to isolate the Kaliningrad exclave bordering the Baltic Sea. This emerges from an informal diplomatic document that Moscow sent to NATO and that the Reuters news agency was able to see.

In it, Russia accuses the alliance of taking a dangerous and reckless course. This poses a high risk of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict. If NATO tries in any way to isolate the Kaliningrad region, Russia is ready to use its entire arsenal to defend itself. This includes the possibility of Russian attacks on decision-making centers in NATO member states right from the start of a conflict.

The Kremlin confirmed that Russia had sent a warning to NATO regarding Kaliningrad. This is intended to remind “hotheads in Europe” of Russia's fundamental stance on this matter, said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday.

NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed receipt of the letter. The alliance responded and made it clear that its activities did not pose a threat to Russian territory. At the same time, she strongly condemned the threat of violence and any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and called on Russia to “end its unprovoked war in Ukraine.”

A senior European defense official called the incident serious. It is the first time since the Cold War that Russia has made such a threat. A NATO diplomat spoke of a Russian attempt at intimidation. The alliance will not let this dissuade it from supporting Ukraine.

In addition to the unofficial warning to NATO, Russian embassies in at least three European countries have released similar statements in recent days. In it, they accuse the alliance of escalating tensions through military exercises and planning scenarios that affect Kaliningrad. The heavily militarized Russian exclave lies on the Baltic Sea and is otherwise surrounded by the NATO states Poland and Lithuania.

The incident underlines the increased tensions between Russia and European countries. They accuse Moscow of waging a hybrid war through sabotage and arson. Russia rejects this and says it is not planning a military attack on a NATO country.