Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow is prepared to deploy every weapon in its arsenal, including nuclear arms, to defend its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad if it faces a direct attack or blockade from Western nations. Speaking at the Valdai foreign policy forum, Putin asserted that any assault on Kaliningrad or other Russian territories would immediately put the use of all available armaments on the country's agenda.
In response to the escalating rhetoric, NATO has sought to ease tensions, emphasizing its status as a defensive alliance and calling on Moscow to cease its nuclear warnings. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte rejected the Kremlin's accusations, stating that none of the alliance's military exercises or operations pose a threat to Russia, describing Putin's remarks as uncalled for and unhelpful.
Kaliningrad is a highly strategic Russian exclave bordered by NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Throughout the week, Russian officials have accused NATO of plotting a blockade to isolate the territory from the rest of the country. While Russia claims to fear a Western invasion, Western military planners have long worried about the opposite scenario: that Russia might attempt to seize Lithuanian territory along the Suwalki Gap—the narrow corridor separating Kaliningrad from Moscow's ally, Belarus.
Lithuania's prime minister recently stated that the country has established emergency evacuation plans, with thousands of NATO troops currently stationed there.
The war of words comes amid a sharp rise in hybrid warfare incidents across Eastern Europe, which Western allies have attributed to Moscow. Just last week, Poland reported that a Russian helicopter breached its airspace near the Kaliningrad border. Meanwhile, Lithuania stated its citizens feel under constant threat, citing frequent drone incursions.
In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that his nation is bracing for more severe hybrid actions, pointing to an incident in August where an explosive-laden drone was discovered on the tarmac at Leipzig airport, close to Ukrainian cargo aircraft.
During his wide-ranging address at the Valdai forum, Putin defended his foreign policy and reiterated his long-standing grievances against the West. Despite launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian leader insisted that Western provocation forced Moscow to take up arms. He argued that ongoing international conflicts are likely to persist but will eventually stabilize as Western hegemony declines.
Addressing the current state of the conflict, Putin justified Russia's relentless targeting of Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure as a direct retaliation for Kyiv's strikes on Russian oil refineries and Black Sea naval assets. While he complained about international calls for a ceasefire, saying "they started it," Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries had yielded "some results," causing Russia to lose approximately 1% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Ukraine has previously stated that targeting Russian oil infrastructure is a strategic necessity to drain the financial resources funding the Kremlin's war machine.
Putin also expanded on the catastrophic potential of modern arsenals, noting that major global powers possess weapons capable of wiping out all life on Earth. To illustrate the danger, he cited the theatrical principle of Chekhov's gun, warning that if a weapon is seen on stage during the first act, it will inevitably be fired by the end. He claimed that no one could guarantee these weapons would never be used, while also calling for a revision of global rules of engagement.
Additionally, the Russian president warned against the increasing digitization and automation of warfare through artificial intelligence, arguing that treating conflict like a video game leads to the degradation of humanity and a slide back into barbarism.
"We are not threatening anyone. We do not intend to attack anyone in 2029, in 2030, in 2050. But if we come across an aggression we will have to respond. Citizens of European countries should be fully aware of that."
He added that while he was aware of the nuclear capabilities of countries such as the UK and France, the weapons at its disposal were unparalleled.
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