Russia has warned NATO it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if the Western alliance attempts to cut off the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, according to a diplomatic document sent to member states and seen by Reuters.
The warning, issued on Wednesday, sharply escalates tensions between Moscow and the Western alliance more than four and a half years into Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine.
"Entire arsenal at its disposal"
In the document, Moscow accused the alliance of a "dangerous and reckless course" carrying "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict". The text said this included the possibility of "Russian strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset".
"Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should Nato countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country," the diplomatic note said, according to Reuters.
The memo, classed as a "non-paper" — diplomatic jargon for an informal document — claimed Moscow has "information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad". In addition to the private warning, Russian embassies in at least three European countries have issued statements in the past three days accusing NATO of escalating tensions through military exercises and planning scenarios involving Kaliningrad.
NATO: "Stop the nuclear threats"
NATO's response came through Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said the alliance is defensive and that Russia should "stop the nuclear threats", calling the document unhelpful. Rutte also downplayed the seriousness of the threat, saying that "Putin knows that he can never win" in a direct escalation with NATO.
In a written response seen by Reuters, NATO said: "None of Nato's exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation," urging Moscow to "refrain from increasingly reckless behaviour towards the Allies and to cease its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."
Bordered by Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, Kaliningrad sits on the Baltic Sea and serves as a major Russian military outpost housing the Baltic fleet and nuclear-ready Iskander missile systems. The exchange follows alleged Russian airspace incursions over Poland in recent weeks and an incident two weeks ago in which Danish authorities said a Russian warship fired two flares near a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea.
Sources: Russia warns NATO of possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut off — Al Jazeera | Russia issues nuclear warning to NATO as tensions rise in the Baltic — ThePrint
The warning, issued on Wednesday, sharply escalates tensions between Moscow and the Western alliance more than four and a half years into Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine.
"Entire arsenal at its disposal"
In the document, Moscow accused the alliance of a "dangerous and reckless course" carrying "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict". The text said this included the possibility of "Russian strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset".
"Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should Nato countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country," the diplomatic note said, according to Reuters.
The memo, classed as a "non-paper" — diplomatic jargon for an informal document — claimed Moscow has "information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad". In addition to the private warning, Russian embassies in at least three European countries have issued statements in the past three days accusing NATO of escalating tensions through military exercises and planning scenarios involving Kaliningrad.
NATO: "Stop the nuclear threats"
NATO's response came through Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who said the alliance is defensive and that Russia should "stop the nuclear threats", calling the document unhelpful. Rutte also downplayed the seriousness of the threat, saying that "Putin knows that he can never win" in a direct escalation with NATO.
In a written response seen by Reuters, NATO said: "None of Nato's exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation," urging Moscow to "refrain from increasingly reckless behaviour towards the Allies and to cease its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric."
Bordered by Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, Kaliningrad sits on the Baltic Sea and serves as a major Russian military outpost housing the Baltic fleet and nuclear-ready Iskander missile systems. The exchange follows alleged Russian airspace incursions over Poland in recent weeks and an incident two weeks ago in which Danish authorities said a Russian warship fired two flares near a Danish military helicopter over the Baltic Sea.
Sources: Russia warns NATO of possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut off — Al Jazeera | Russia issues nuclear warning to NATO as tensions rise in the Baltic — ThePrint
