Russia warns NATO against isolating Kaliningrad, citing possible nuclear response

Moscow, Russia. Russia has warned NATO that it would be ready to use nuclear weapons if alliance members attempted to cut off Kaliningrad, its exclave on the Baltic Sea. NATO said its activities posed no threat to Russian territory.

Russia’s warning

In a diplomatic note sent to NATO and seen by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of a “dangerous and reckless course” carrying “high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict”. It said that could include Russian strikes against decision-making centres in NATO member states “right from the outset”.

“Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should NATO countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country,” the note said.

The warning reflects Moscow’s concern about what it sees as a growing NATO threat to Kaliningrad. The heavily militarised Russian territory lies between Poland and Lithuania and is slightly larger than the US state of Connecticut.

NATO response

In a written response seen by Reuters, NATO said it was a defensive alliance committed to countering threats to its members from all directions.

“None of NATO’s exercises or activities pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation,” it said. NATO called on Russia to end its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, refrain from what it described as increasingly reckless behaviour towards allies and cease its “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric”.

Analyst assessment

Nikolai Sokov, a Vienna-based nuclear analyst and former Russian diplomat, said it was becoming increasingly difficult for Western countries to increase support for Ukraine without risking direct confrontation with Moscow.

He said the warning may indicate that hardliners are gaining influence in a debate over how Russia should respond to Western actions, including arms supplies to Kyiv, new sanctions on Moscow, interceptions of Russian ships, frequent military exercises and intelligence flights near Kaliningrad.