Russia warns NATO of possible nuclear response if Kaliningrad is cut off

What the report says

Russia has warned NATO that it could respond with its full military arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if the alliance tries to isolate the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, according to a diplomatic memo reported by Al Jazeera and attributed to Reuters. The document, sent to NATO members on Wednesday, said Moscow believed the alliance was preparing an air and naval blockade of the Baltic Sea territory.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte rejected the warning, describing NATO as a defensive alliance and urging Russia to stop making nuclear threats. He also said the memo was unhelpful and suggested Moscow would not prevail in a direct confrontation with the alliance.

Kaliningrad lies between Poland and Lithuania, both NATO members, and is a strategically important Russian military hub on the Baltic Sea. It hosts the Baltic Fleet and systems that can carry nuclear-capable missiles. The exchange adds to already elevated regional tensions more than four years into Russia’s war in Ukraine, as concern grows over spillover risks in neighbouring countries.

Al Jazeera also noted that recent weeks have seen heightened vigilance in the region, including Poland reinforcing air defences after reported airspace incidents and Denmark describing a close encounter involving a Russian warship near a military helicopter.