President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reiterated Moscow’s long-held position that Russia has no plans to attack European countries but will respond to aggression with “all weapons” in its arsenal.
In his remarks at a foreign policy forum, Putin accused the West and Europe of escalating tensions by talking about preparing for war with Moscow in the coming years and conducting military exercises in the Baltics seaAnd Seizure of Russian ships.
His remarks followed Moscow’s warning to NATO that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons for defense Kaliningrad Should members of the military alliance try to cut off the Baltic exclave from the rest of Russia?
Several Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week saying Moscow had “information that NATO is preparing an air and sea blockade of Kaliningrad and the Kaliningrad region.”
They accused European leaders of “playing a dangerous game” by saying Russia could attack another country or start a campaign destabilizing drone attacks and sabotage. Moscow described the allegations as absurd.
“There should be no mistake – Russia would be ready to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” the Russian embassy in Ireland said in its statement on Tuesday.
Asked at the Valdai Club forum on Thursday whether Russia was on the verge of war with NATO or whether both were trying to intimidate each other, Putin said: “It’s not intimidation, it’s a reaction to an attempt to intimidate us.”
Putin said that “everything was written correctly” in the earlier warning to NATO.
“If there is a direct attack on the Russian Federation – in this case we mean Kaliningrad or perhaps some other territories – then, of course, the question of the use by the Russian Federation of all weapons at our country’s disposal will inevitably and immediately appear on the agenda,” he said.
Putin gave no details on whether Moscow would use nuclear weapons, but said it had weapons that “no one else has” and that it would decide which to use in the event of an attack.
NATO pushed back against Russian nuclear rhetoric
NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart confirmed on Wednesday that Russia had sent a written message to the US-led military alliance. “We strongly condemn the threat of violence, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” she said in a statement.
Hart insisted that NATO was not targeting Kaliningrad and had pointed out in a response that “NATO is a defensive alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the bloc’s response to the news was “short and succinct.”
“Basically we said: ‘Hey, listen, we are a defense alliance and we are stopping the nuclear threat. This is absolutely not necessary and not helpful,'” Rutte told Euronews.
NATO’s response also called on Russia to end its “unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine” now in the fifth year.
The Baltic The Kaliningrad exclave lies between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It is home to the main Russian naval base in the Baltics and other military facilities. Nuclear-capable Iskander missiles are also stationed there.
Western military officials said key military facilities in Kaliningrad would be a likely first target if Russia ever attacked a NATO ally.
NATO allies have been conducting military exercises in the Baltic Sea region in recent months. More are planned for October. It has been started Operation Baltic Sentry there last year to protect communications cables and pipelines.
On August 18, NATO conducted an exercise over northern Poland and the Baltics involving several aircraft, including an EA-37B compass Call – a sophisticated American aircraft capable of jamming communications and radar, U.S. Air Forces in Europe said.
Defense analysts believe the unannounced, large-scale exercise would not have been welcomed by the Kremlin.
Rutte urges continued focus on supporting Ukraine
European leaders and intelligence agencies have warned that Russia could be ready to attack another country within a few years, especially if it wins War against Ukraine.
Rutte told Euronews that Russia was trying to “divide us and lose focus on the defense of Ukraine.”
“We won’t,” he said, adding that the best response would be to give Kiev more support.
“That’s the message. Calm down, carry on, maintain support for Ukraine. This is how we deal with it,” Rutte said.
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Associated Press reporter Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed.