Russia Warns NATO It Is Ready to Use Nuclear Weapons if Kaliningrad Is Cut Off From Russia
Russia has warned NATO that it could resort to nuclear weapons if the alliance attempts to cut Kaliningrad off from the rest of Russian territory.
In a diplomatic document sent to NATO, Moscow warned that any attempt to isolate the Russian exclave could trigger a direct military confrontation and carry the risk of severe escalation.
Kaliningrad is a Russian territory on the Baltic Sea, located between NATO members Poland and Lithuania and separated from mainland Russia.
Russian officials have repeatedly identified the defense of Kaliningrad as a major security priority, while NATO countries have strengthened their military presence in the Baltic region since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The latest warning represents a sharp escalation in Moscow’s rhetoric over the strategically important territory and raises concerns over the potential for a wider Russia-NATO confrontation.
Moscow has warned that any conflict involving Kaliningrad could carry consequences extending to the nuclear level.