NATO condemns Russian nuclear threats over Kaliningrad

Summarised from 12 outlets · 19 reports · Updated 2 Oct, 14:33 · Archive

Russia has threatened nuclear strikes if NATO threatens or blockades Kaliningrad, its Baltic exclave bordered by Lithuania and Poland.

Russia has escalated rhetoric in a tense exchange with NATO, warning of nuclear strikes if the alliance threatens or blockades Kaliningrad, its exclave on the Baltic Sea that borders Lithuania and Poland.

In a diplomatic note to NATO, the Kremlin accused the alliance of preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and pursuing what it termed a 'dangerous and reckless course'. Russia stated it would be ready to use 'the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal', including nuclear weapons, if the exclave was threatened. The Kremlin also warned of potential strikes against decision-making centres in NATO member states 'from the outset' of any conflict.

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: 'If Europe attacks Russia, it will be a completely different sort of war — a very short war.' The Russian statement claimed NATO's approach to Kaliningrad 'sharply increases the risks' of military confrontation.

NATO has condemned the threats as 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric' in response. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte dismissed the Russian warnings, stating there was 'no way they can beat us', according to Politico Europe.

The tensions have intensified as Russia reportedly considers weapons factories in European countries that produce arms for Ukraine as 'potential military targets'. The Kremlin's accusations that NATO is preparing a blockade have not been independently verified, and Western states have insisted NATO is a defensive alliance only.

How it is being reported

• Vladimir Putin warns 'all weapons at disposal' if Russia is attacked by WestVladimir Putin has warned that "all weapons are at disposal" if Russia is attacked. The Russian President threw out the eerie warning if the West considers launching an offensive on the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. Over the past week, the Kremlin has accused Nato of gearing up to blockade the Baltic territory, sandwiched between Lithuania and Poland. Putin even flagged Moscow was ready to launch rockets if Europe attempted to take over the exclave. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Western states insisted that Nato was merely a defensive alliance and demanded President Putin dial down the…GB News · 1 Oct, 22:47
• Russia’s Putin rules out ceasefire with Ukraine during speech in MoscowPutin warned the West he would deploy nuclear weapons if necessary to defend the Russian Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.Al Jazeera · 1 Oct, 22:33
• Vladimir Putin's 'Professor Doomsday' warns 'millions will die' in Europe nuclear strikeOne of Vladimir Putin's former advisers, Sergei Karaganov, warned that Russia will go nuclear if NATO sends troops to Ukraine or touches KaliningradThe Mirror · 1 Oct, 18:05
• Kubilius: Russian attack on arms factory would trigger NATO military responseMoscow has warned that weapons factories in European countries that produce arms for Ukraine are "potential military targets for Russia."Politico Europe · 1 Oct, 15:04
• Russian official warns country will eventually 'go nuclear' and there will be 'little left' of some European countries if they continue to back Ukraine in latest WW3 threatSergei Karaganov said Russia would initially use conventional weapons, but would resort to nuclear attacks if Europe refused to surrender.Daily Mail · 1 Oct, 14:13
• Vladimir Putin threatens nuclear strike on NATO countries over hoax 'blockade' claimIn a menacing diplomatic memo sent last night, Russia did not hold back and claimed Moscow has 'information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad'The Mirror · 1 Oct, 13:08
• Vladimir Putin threatens to flatten Nato with nuclear weapons 'from the outset' on one conditionRussia has warned Nato it would be ready to press the nuclear button "right from the outset" if the alliance moved to cut off the exclave of Kaliningrad. In a diplomatic note sent to Nato, the Kremlin accused the alliance of pursuing a "dangerous and reckless course". Moscow warned the alliance's actions carry "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict", and threatened to launch "strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset". The document added: "Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its…GB News · 1 Oct, 06:54
• Moscow threatens nuclear response over tiny fortress wedged between US allies as clash fears growThe Russian document also raised the possibility of strikes against "decision-making centers" in NATO member states from the outset of a conflict.New York Post · 1 Oct, 06:47
• Ukraine-Russia war latest: Nato responds to Putin’s nuclear weapon threat against member nationsMoscow vows to use its ‘entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons’ if threatenedIndependent World · 1 Oct, 06:29
• Russia sends nuclear warning to NATO as tensions rise in the Baltic"If Europe attacks Russia, it will be a completely different sort of war — a very short war," said a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.The Japan Times · 1 Oct, 02:11
• Nato blasts ‘irresponsible’ Russia rhetoric after nuclear arsenal threatRussia threatened to deploy nuclear weapons if Kaliningrad was threatened (Picture: Reuters) NATO has responded to Russia’s outright threat to deploy nuclear weapons if Kaliningrad is ‘threatened’ by the alliance. Russia addressed what it called ‘threats’ to its Baltic enclave from NATO and said…Metro · 30 Sept, 20:25
• Russia warns NATO of possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut offMoscow claims that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade in the Baltic Sea.Al Jazeera · 30 Sept, 19:52
• Moscow threatens nuclear response over tiny fortress wedged between US allies as clash fears growRussia's nuclear threat over Kaliningrad raises alarm as experts warn the Baltic exclave is already a hub for hybrid warfare against NATO allies.Fox News · 30 Sept, 18:41
• Russia warns NATO of a possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut offRussia has warned NATO it could use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad if allies attempt to cut off the exclaveIndependent World · 30 Sept, 17:53
• Russia threatens to strike Nato with nuclear weapons 'right from the outset' if the alliance tries to cut off its European outpost KaliningradRussia has warned Nato it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave that borders the Baltic Sea.Daily Mail · 30 Sept, 16:53
• ‘No way they can beat us’: Rutte rebuffs Russian nuclear threats to NATOMoscow and NATO have exchanged tense letters in recent days following Russian opposition to alliance exercises near its Kaliningrad exclave.Politico Europe · 30 Sept, 16:13
• Russia threatens nuclear strikes on Nato countries over KaliningradKremlin accuses western defence alliance of preparing to blockade Russian exclave on Baltic SeaFinancial Times · 30 Sept, 12:35
• Ukraine war briefing: Nato condemns Moscow’s ‘irresponsible nuclear rhetoric’ as strikes on Kyiv intensifyComments come after Moscow warned it would ‘deploy its entire arsenal’ if Kaliningrad was threatened. What we know on day 1,680 Continue reading...The Guardian · 30 Sept, 03:22
• NATO condemns ‘nuclear rhetoric’ in tense exchange with RussiaNATO was responding to a warning by Russia that the alliance's approach to Kaliningrad "sharply increases the risks" of a military confrontation.The Japan Times · 29 Sept, 23:10

In this story: Russia · NATO · Kaliningrad · Lithuania · Poland · Ukraine · Mark Rutte

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