President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Thursday that Russia would respond to aggression with “all weapons” in its arsenal if any of its territory faces a direct attack, warning against Western escalation. Speaking at a foreign policy forum, Putin accused the West and Europe of increasing tensions by discussing a potential war with Moscow in the coming years, conducting military drills in the Baltic Sea, and seizing Russian vessels.
These remarks followed a warning from Moscow to NATO that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad, a Baltic exclave, should NATO members attempt to cut it off from the rest of Russia. Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week alleging that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and the surrounding region, accusing European leaders of engaging in a “dangerous game” with their rhetoric about potential Russian aggression.
"There should be no mistake — Russia would be ready to use all its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate (the) Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” the Russian Embassy in Ireland stated Tuesday.
When asked about potential conflict with NATO, Putin described the situation not as intimidation, but as a response to being intimidated. He affirmed that Russia's earlier warning to NATO was accurate and that an attack on Russian Federation territory, specifically mentioning Kaliningrad, would lead to the immediate consideration of using all available weapons.
Putin did not specify which weapons would be deployed but noted Russia possesses arms that “no one else has” and would decide their use based on the circumstances of an attack. A NATO spokesperson confirmed the alliance received a written message from Russia, denouncing “the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.”
NATO maintains that it is a defensive alliance and none of its activities pose a risk to Russia. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the alliance's response as brief, emphasizing NATO's defensive nature and urging Russia to cease nuclear threats.
The Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad is situated between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It hosts Russia's primary Baltic navy base, other military assets, and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles. Western military analysts suggest that key military installations in Kaliningrad would likely be primary targets in the event of a Russian attack on a NATO ally.
NATO has conducted military exercises in the Baltic Sea region in recent months, with more planned for October, including Operation Baltic Sentry, aimed at protecting communication cables and pipelines. An exercise involving jamming aircraft over northern Poland and the Baltic region in August was reportedly not welcomed by the Kremlin.
European leaders and intelligence services have previously warned that Russia might be capable of striking another country within a few years, particularly if it achieves victory in Ukraine. Rutte suggested Russia's intent is to sow division and distract from the defense of Ukraine, advocating for continued and increased support for Kyiv as the primary response.