Putin warns NATO of nuclear response if Kaliningrad is attacked or blockaded

The war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its several months, has reached a new and more dangerous turn. Rising tension between Russia and the Western military alliance NATO has now reached the point of direct nuclear threats. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned NATO in very clear terms that if there is any attempt to attack or blockade any part of Russia, especially Kaliningrad, Moscow will use its full strength and respond with all modern weapons, including nuclear arms. Putin also said European countries should immediately stop the dangerous game of escalating tension and playing with fire.

Putin made the remarks to journalists at the Valdai Club Forum in Moscow. Replying to a question, he said, "Russia is not planning to attack or invade European countries. But if anyone tries to challenge Russia's sovereignty, we will not sit silent." He also claimed that Russia today has highly advanced, modern weapons that no other country in the world possesses. Asked whether NATO was trying to intimidate Russia, Putin said this was not intimidation but a crushing reply to those who threaten Russia.

At the same event, Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said Mr Modi has very good, practical and effective ideas for ending the long war between Russia and Ukraine peacefully and finding a diplomatic solution. Russia has welcomed India's sincere efforts to establish peace in the world.

Kaliningrad is a highly important and geographically sensitive Russian territory. It is separate from mainland Russia and lies on the Baltic Sea coast between the NATO member states Poland and Lithuania. It hosts Russia's main Baltic naval base. Russia has also deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles and large military bases there. For this reason the region is considered vital to Russia's security.

According to information from Russian embassies in Europe, Moscow has learnt that NATO countries are secretly preparing an air and sea blockade of Kaliningrad. The Russian embassy in Ireland strongly objected and said that if NATO countries tried to cut Kaliningrad off from the rest of Russia or stop its supplies, Russia would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend the region and its citizens.

Russia has accused the leaders of European countries of inciting war and raising tension. European intelligence agencies and Western leaders have repeatedly voiced fears that after Ukraine, Russia could attack other European countries in the next few years. Moscow has dismissed all these allegations as ridiculous and baseless. Moscow says Western countries are projecting a Russian threat to hide their own mistakes and divert their citizens' attention.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart, on the other hand, rejected Russia's claim. She said Russia had sent the alliance a written message on the matter. NATO said that threatening to use nuclear weapons is highly irresponsible. She reiterated that NATO has no intention of targeting Kaliningrad or taking military action there, and that the organisation is acting only in a defensive role.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also appealed to Russia to immediately stop its nuclear threats and withdraw from the war against Ukraine. According to Mr Rutte, Russia is trying to divide NATO countries and stop the international aid reaching Ukraine. But NATO will stand firmly with Ukraine and calmly give the right response to every Russian challenge, he said.

Meanwhile, war-like conditions have prevailed in the Baltic Sea region for the past few months. NATO countries have held several large military exercises there. Operation Baltic Sentry is under way to protect undersea communication cables and energy pipelines. A large exercise was also held in northern Poland and the Baltic region with advanced US EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, which jam radar and communication systems. These developments have raised fears of a spark of war in northern Europe, and world peace is being described as under threat.