Russia has issued warnings to NATO officials about the possibility of a nuclear attack if the Kaliningrad exclave is isolated. The information was confirmed to the press by the Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov.
Previously, Reuters wrote that it consulted a document in which the Russian administration warns members of the North Atlantic Alliance that it is prepared to use nuclear weapons if access to Kaliningrad is stopped.
According to the non-paper document, Russia could strike decision-making centers in member states of the Alliance, in the event of a blockade of Kaliningrad.
“It is absolutely natural for our diplomats to try to remind the hot-headed leaders in Europe about the policy inscribed in our documents regarding this issue,” Peskov told journalists.
The Russian embassies in at least three European countries have issued statements in the last three days accusing NATO of escalating tensions through military exercises and scenarios targeting Kaliningrad. Concurrently, Moscow has rejected Western accusations regarding the threats it poses to Europe.
NATO spokesperson, Allison Hart, confirmed that Russia has submitted a non-paper document to the Alliance, but did not disclose its content, reports Agerpres.
“We have sent a response, in which we emphasize that NATO is a defensive alliance and that none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia. We strongly condemn the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric. We urge Russia to cease its unprovoked war in Ukraine,” commented Allison Hart on the Kremlin’s threats.
Experts assert that this is the first time since the end of the Cold War that Russia threatens NATO in such a manner and believe it to be a matter of serious developments, while representatives of the Alliance consider it to be merely an attempt to intimidate the military bloc, in the context of the support given to Ukraine.