Putin says Russia would deploy its full arsenal if territory came under attack
Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would consider using every weapon at its disposal, including nuclear arms, if its territory were attacked. NATO says it is a defensive alliance, rejects any plan to target Kaliningrad and has condemned what it called irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.
President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would use all weapons available to it if any part of the country, including the Kaliningrad region, came under direct attack. Speaking at the Valdai Club forum on Thursday, Putin said Russia was not preparing to attack European countries. He accused Western governments of increasing tensions by discussing preparations for a possible war with Moscow, holding military exercises in the Baltic region and seizing Russian vessels.
Putin’s comments followed warnings from Russian embassies in Europe that NATO could seek to impose an air and naval blockade on Kaliningrad. The embassies described such a move as dangerous and said Moscow would defend the region with its full arsenal. “If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation,” Putin said, the question of using “all weapons at the disposal of our country” would arise immediately.
He did not specify whether nuclear weapons would be used, but said Russia possessed arms unavailable to other countries. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed that Russia had sent a written message to the alliance. She said NATO strongly rejected threats involving force, including nuclear rhetoric, and insisted that its activities and exercises did not threaten any part of Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance’s response was brief. He called on Moscow to stop its war against Ukraine and said supporting Kyiv remained the appropriate response to Russian pressure. Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave situated between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
It hosts Russia’s main Baltic naval base, other military assets and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles. NATO countries have held military exercises in the Baltic Sea region and plan further drills in October. The alliance also launched Operation Baltic Sentry last year to protect undersea communication cables and pipelines.
European officials have warned that Russia could attack another country within several years, particularly if it prevails in Ukraine.
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