Jakarta, ThedailyID — Russia has warned NATO that it could use nuclear weapons if the alliance attempts to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russian territory.
The warning came in a diplomatic note sent to NATO and reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday, September 30. Moscow accused the alliance of following a dangerous path that could increase the risk of direct armed conflict.
Russia said any attempt to isolate Kaliningrad would trigger a response using its full range of weapons and military capabilities. That response, Moscow said, could include nuclear weapons.
Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea. It sits between NATO members Poland and Lithuania and has no direct land connection to mainland Russia.
The Russian note also warned that Moscow could target decision-making centers in NATO member states at the beginning of a conflict.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova echoed the warning. She accused some NATO officials of hostility toward Russia and said Moscow hoped its message would be heard.
“If Europe attacks Russia, this will be a completely different war, a very short war,” Zakharova said, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded by rejecting Russia’s nuclear rhetoric. He said NATO is a defensive alliance and called the threat unnecessary and unhelpful.
NATO also said its exercises and activities do not pose a threat to Russian territory. The alliance urged Moscow to stop its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its nuclear rhetoric.
Rutte was also asked whether the nuclear threat meant the risk to the Baltic states had become immediate. He said NATO did not consider there to be an imminent threat to its territory.
The latest exchange comes as tensions around the Baltic region continue to rise. Kaliningrad has become a major strategic flashpoint because of its location between NATO members and its military importance to Russia.
Russia has also accused NATO of increasing tensions through military exercises and planning scenarios involving Kaliningrad. The Kremlin described its diplomatic messages as warnings aimed at preventing what it considers dangerous actions.
The dispute adds to already strained relations between Russia and European countries following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. European governments have also accused Russia of carrying out hybrid activities, including sabotage and destabilization efforts.
