Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened NATO countries with a nuclear attack on Thursday. He said that if any Russian territory were attacked, Russia would respond with all its weapons.
Putin said during the Valdai Forum in Moscow that if NATO tried to separate Kaliningrad from Russia, Russia would respond immediately.
Kaliningrad is a separate territory of Russia. It is not connected to the rest of the country. It is located in Europe, between Poland and Lithuania, 300 km from Russia’s border. Russia has occupied the territory since 1945, after the Second World War.
Why Kaliningrad is important to Russia
- Access to the Baltic Sea: Russia’s Baltic Fleet is deployed here, helping Russia maintain a naval military presence in the region.
- Strategic location amid NATO: It is close to NATO countries on all sides. This makes it important for Russia to maintain military pressure in Europe.
- Missile deployment: Russia has deployed several modern weapons here, including the Iskander missile system.
- Military surveillance: From here, it is easier to monitor Poland, Lithuania and areas around the Baltic Sea.
- Security shield for Russia: Russia believes that Kaliningrad plays an essential role in protecting its western border.
Putin says Western countries are preparing for war with Russia
President Putin accused Western countries and Europe of escalating tensions. He said Western countries were talking about preparing for war with Russia in the coming years.
He also referred to military exercises in the Baltic Sea and the seizure of Russian ships. His statement came after Moscow warned NATO that Russia would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad.
Claim: NATO preparing to blockade Kaliningrad
Several Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week claiming that Moscow has information that NATO is preparing an air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and the wider region.
Russia accused European leaders of playing a dangerous game. Moscow said European leaders were repeatedly claiming that Russia could attack another country or create instability in other countries through drones and acts of sabotage. Russia dismissed these allegations as baseless.
NATO: No plans to attack Russia
NATO has rejected Russia’s warnings about the use of nuclear weapons. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on Wednesday, “We strongly condemn threats of force and irresponsible nuclear statements.”
She said NATO was not targeting Kaliningrad. NATO is a defensive alliance, she said, and its military activities pose no threat to any part of Russia.
NATO chief Mark Rutte also called on Russia to stop making threats of nuclear attacks. He claimed that Russia wants to distract member states and reduce the focus on supporting Ukraine. But NATO will not allow this to happen.
The NATO chief speaks during a press conference in Brussels, Belgium. This photo is from September 2, 2026.
NATO military exercises in the Baltic Sea raise tensions
NATO member states have conducted military exercises around the Baltic Sea in recent months. More such exercises are also planned for October. Last year, NATO launched ‘Operation Baltic Sentry’ in the region. Its aim is to protect undersea communication cables and pipelines.
On 18 August, NATO conducted a military exercise in northern Poland and the Baltic region. Several aircraft took part, including the EA-37B Compass Call aircraft, which has the capability to disrupt communication and radar systems, according to the US Air Force.