Russia has warned NATO that it could use nuclear weapons if the Western military alliance tried to cut off Kaliningrad, a heavily militarized Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, as fighting continued in Ukraine killing and injuring numerous people.
In a document sent to NATO, Moscow accused the alliance of pursuing a “dangerous and reckless course” carrying “high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict.”
The warning raised the prospect of Russian strikes against decision-making centers in NATO member states from the outset of such a conflict.
“Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons,” Moscow warned if NATO countries attempted to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia.
The message was contained in a so-called “non-paper,” the diplomatic term for an informal communication, and came amid sharply rising tensions between Moscow and European NATO members.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed receiving the Russian document but declined to disclose its contents.
“We have sent a response, noting that NATO is a defensive Alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia,” Hart explained. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.”
She also called on Moscow to end its invasion of Ukraine.
A senior European defense official described the Russian message as the most serious threat of its kind since the Cold War, while a NATO diplomat characterized it as another attempt by Moscow to intimidate European nations.
Kaliningrad lies between NATO members Poland and Lithuania and is separated geographically from the Russian mainland. The territory hosts significant Russian military forces and has long been regarded as one of the most sensitive potential flashpoints between Moscow and NATO.
As the war intensifies, Russia has also stepped up economic pressure on European interests, placing the Russian operations of several major Western companies under temporary administration amid worsening relations with Europe.
Recent targets include Swiss food giant Nestlé, French retailer Auchan and German wholesaler Metro AG. Moscow has linked such measures to European support for Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia.
Since the war began, 135 foreign-affiliated companies, predominantly linked to European Union countries, have been subjected to temporary administration, according to Russian state media.A senior Russian government source said the widening crackdown was an “asymmetric” response to European sanctions and suggested other European companies could face similar measures.
The latest moves highlight how the Ukraine war is extending beyond the battlefield, with Moscow warning NATO over Kaliningrad and exerting economic pressure on Western companies while fighting Ukrainian troops in Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War Two.
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