NATO strongly condemned Russia’s threats regarding a possible military escalation around the Kaliningrad exclave and rejected Moscow’s accusations that the North Atlantic Alliance is conducting provocative actions near Russian territory.
“NATO is a defensive alliance, and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia”, declared on Tuesday Allison Hart, the NATO spokesperson, in response to a letter sent by the Russian government.
The Moscow Document, consulted by the German agency DPA, accuses NATO of an “unprecedented escalation of the military-political situation” around the Kaliningrad region, accompanied by “very provocative” statements made by officials of the Alliance member states, according to Yahoo.
Russia warns that this situation involves a high risk of a direct armed conflict outbreak and maintains that it could resort to strikes against the decision-making centers of NATO member states from the very beginning of a potential conflict.
Moscow threatens even with the use of nuclear weapons
The letter specifies that Russia is prepared to use its “entire arsenal of forces and capabilities“, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory in the event that NATO states attempt to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia.
The Russian government has asked NATO member states to abandon what it has called destabilizing and escalating actions, in order to avoid a large-scale confrontation.
NATO, however, has rejected Moscow’s warnings
“We strongly condemn the threat of using force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” declared Allison Hart.
The spokeswoman called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine and argued that the hybrid tactics used by Moscow are a sign of desperation.
“We will not be discouraged in our support for Ukraine. We have what it takes to defend every inch of allied territory and we remain strong, prepared, and capable of countering any threat”, the NATO representative further stated.
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