Russia threatens with nuclear weapons if NATO blocks Kaliningrad

BrusselsRussia is once again threatening NATO with nuclear weapons. The Kremlin has sent a letter to the Atlantic Alliance in which it warns that it is prepared to resort to atomic weaponry if the defense organization attempts to block the Kaliningrad region, a Russian enclave located between Poland and Lithuania, with access to the Baltic Sea.

Specifically, it asserts that it plans to use "the entire arsenal of forces at its disposal, including nuclear weapons," in order to "defend its territory" and, particularly, if the countries of the Atlantic Alliance attempt to "isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country." In the text, which was made public by the Reuters agency, Moscow criticizes that NATO is taking a "dangerous and reckless" path that could lead to a high risk that "a direct armed conflict will break out."

In response to the letter, the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte, has warned Moscow to stop the nuclear threats. "We are a defensive alliance. Stop the nuclear threats. [...] This does not help," said Rutte at an event organized by Euronews this Wednesday.

NATO has conveyed a response to Russia in which it assures that none of its "activities or exercises represent a risk to any part of Russia." "We firmly denounce the threat of the use of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. We call on Russia to put an end to its unprovoked war in Ukraine," said the Alliance's response, as confirmed by a NATO spokesperson.