Putin says Kaliningrad letter to NATO was not meant to intimidate
President Putin said Russia's warning letter to NATO over Kaliningrad was a response to the alliance's own attempt to intimidate Moscow.
Update ·
NATO's Rutte confirms the alliance received Moscow's warning letter but says it is not taken too seriously.
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President Vladimir Putin said at Russia's Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow that Moscow's warning letter to NATO over was not intended to intimidate the alliance. "The letter was not meant to scare them, but a response to their attempt to scare us," Putin said, according to comments carried by Belgian broadcaster HLN. He said the use of weapons of mass destruction should be avoided wherever possible but could never be entirely ruled out.
Lithuania's intelligence services say Russia has recently stepped up its use of electronic-warfare equipment to jam and spoof satellite signals around Kaliningrad, presidential security adviser Deividas Matulionis said, according to 15min. Lithuania assesses the jamming is meant to protect Russian military sites in the exclave from drones, boats or satellite-guided missiles, which Matulionis said may indicate Russia fears a Ukrainian strike on the territory.
Russia had already warned NATO through diplomatic channels that it could use its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if alliance members tried to isolate or attack Kaliningrad. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova addressed the possibility in an official response to media questions, and Kremlin adviser Nikolai Patrushev said Russian authorities expected NATO warnings over the exclave to remain verbal, while warning that any real action would receive a rapid response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the message as non-confrontational and said Russia was not seeking conflict over the region. Russia's embassy in London separately warned of consequences if NATO pursued blockade plans against the exclave.
NATO has rejected Moscow's account of alliance activity. NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the alliance is defensive and that its exercises do not threaten Russian territory, Tagesspiegel reported, and NATO said it strongly condemns the threats. Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed NATO had received Russia's warning letter but said the alliance does not take the threat too seriously, Censor.net reported, adding that there is no imminent risk of Russia using nuclear weapons against the Baltic states.
Estonia's foreign ministry said Russia's actions in Europe go beyond and warned that more serious, mass-casualty attacks were likely unless the European Union responds jointly, foreign minister Margus Tsahkna said. A Polish foreign ministry spokesman, Maciej Weiwor, called Russia's nuclear rhetoric a reckless attempt at escalation. Polish army general Piotr Blazeusz said Russia is not currently capable of invading a NATO member state but is steadily building up hybrid operations.
Lithuania has rejected Russia's accusations. Matulionis told 15min that Moscow's warnings were baseless and amounted to psychological pressure. No blockade of Kaliningrad or direct military action against the exclave has been announced by NATO.
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What we know
- 1 outlet Putin said Russia's warning letter to NATO over Kaliningrad was not meant to intimidate the alliance.
- 1 outlet Lithuania says Russia has increased electronic jamming of satellite signals around Kaliningrad.
- 2+ outlets · HLN, Il Fatto Quotidiano Russia has warned it could use its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if NATO tried to isolate or attack Kaliningrad.
- 1 outlet NATO's Mark Rutte says the alliance received the warning but does not take the threat too seriously.
- 1 outlet No blockade or direct military action against Kaliningrad has been announced by NATO.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The exchange over Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian exclave on NATO's Baltic border, is one of the sharpest points of nuclear rhetoric between Moscow and the alliance, with Estonia warning that further hybrid attacks are likely unless the EU responds jointly.
Updates
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NATO's Rutte confirms the alliance received Moscow's warning letter but says it is not taken too seriously.
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Estonia's foreign minister warns more serious, mass-casualty attacks are likely unless the EU responds jointly to Russia.
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Putin says the Kaliningrad letter to NATO was a response to Western attempts to intimidate Russia, not a threat.
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A Russian military helicopter violated Polish airspace last week, one of several recent incidents near the Kaliningrad exclave.
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Lithuanian intelligence says Russia has stepped up jamming of satellite signals around Kaliningrad to shield military sites.
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Putin says a direct attack on Kaliningrad could trigger use of all weapons available to Russia.
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Putin says nuclear use cannot be ruled out as he defends Moscow's Kaliningrad warning.
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NATO chief Rutte says the alliance is far stronger than Russia and cannot be defeated, hardening his dismissal of the threats.
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Putin orders agencies to take all necessary measures to secure Kaliningrad, Patrushev says.
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Kremlin spokesman Peskov says the Kaliningrad warning is not "confrontational", comparing it to Putin's 2007 Munich speech.
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Russia's embassy warns the UK that its plans to blockade Kaliningrad will have consequences.
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NATO believes Russia's warning follows a mid-August Nato exercise that showed the alliance could control Kaliningrad, military sources say.
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NATO's Rutte says he does not take Russia's nuclear threats over Kaliningrad 'too seriously'.
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Russia's embassy in Dublin also threatened nuclear strikes if Kaliningrad is blockaded, Censor.net reports.
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NATO chief Mark Rutte has called for calm despite the Kaliningrad nuclear warnings, Dutch media reported.
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Kremlin's Peskov calls warning "a reminder to hotheads" as Baltic Fleet holds drills near Kaliningrad.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirms Russia sent the nuclear warning to NATO as an informal "non-paper."
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Lithuanian intelligence says Russia's military presence in Kaliningrad has weakened as troops are sent to fight in Ukraine.
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Belgium will speed up delivery of three F-16 jets to Ukraine by year-end, Zelensky says.
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NATO rejects Russia's warning, condemning "the threat of force in the strongest terms, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric," its spokeswoman says.
First published.
Sources
Reported by 320 reports from 166 independent outlets in 20 countries.
- TASS: Russian embassy warns UK that its plans to blockade Kaliningrad to have consequences
- Zerkalo: А если Беларусь и Калининград попытаются закрыть Сувалкский коридор? Таким вопросом задавались в британском парламенте
- Tagesspiegel: Spannungen im Baltikum: Nato verurteilt russische Gewaltandrohung „aufs Schärfste“
- HLN: Rusland beschuldigt NAVO van bedreigen Kaliningrad en dreigt met “verdediging van alle wapens ter beschikking”
- 15min: Rusija vėl kursto įtampą dėl Kaliningrado: Lietuvos prezidentūra sureagavo į grasinimus
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What did Putin say about the Kaliningrad letter?
- He said it was not meant to intimidate NATO but was a response to what he called the alliance's own attempt to intimidate Russia.
- How has NATO responded?
- NATO confirmed it received the letter but said it does not take the threat too seriously, and said there is no imminent risk of Russia using nuclear weapons against the Baltic states.
- What is Russia doing around Kaliningrad?
- Lithuania says Russia has stepped up electronic jamming of satellite signals around the exclave, which it assesses is meant to protect Russian military sites there.
This article was written with AI assistance from 235 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.