Putin Warns Russia Will Use 'All Weapons' to Defend Territory as Moscow Threatens Nuclear Response Over Kaliningrad
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia does not intend to launch attacks on European nations but will respond to any aggression with all available weapons. During a foreign policy forum, he criticized the West and Europe for escalating tensions through discussions of potential war preparations with Moscow, military exercises in the Baltic Sea, and the confiscation of Russian ships. His remarks followed a warning from Moscow to NATO, stating it would not shy away from using nuclear weapons to protect Kaliningrad if NATO members tried to isolate the exclave. This week, multiple Russian embassies in Europe claimed that Moscow has information indicating NATO's plans for an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and its region.
Key facts
- Vladimir Putin reiterated on Thursday that Russia is not planning to attack European countries
- Putin said Russia will respond to aggression with 'all weapons' in its arsenal
- Putin accused the West and Europe of escalating tensions by discussing preparation for war with Moscow
- Putin cited military drills in the Baltic Sea and the seizure of Russian vessels
- Moscow warned Nato it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad
- The warning concerned attempts to cut off the Baltic exclave from the rest of Russia
- Several Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week
- The statements said Moscow has information that Nato is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and the Kaliningrad region
Entities
Artists
- Vladimir Putin
Institutions
- Nato
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- Moscow
- Russia
- Kaliningrad
- Kaliningrad region
- Baltic Sea
- Europe