In brief
At the Valdai foreign‑policy forum, Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow would deploy all the weapons it has – even nuclear – to defend its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad if it faces a direct attack or blockade. He dismissed the threat as a West‑premeditated war scenario and insisted Russia was not threatening anyone. The Kremlin has linked the warning to recent hybrid incidents, such as a Russian helicopter over Polish airspace and drones over Lithuanian airspace, and German officials have accused Russia of armed drone attacks. NATO has refuted the claims, calling the alliance purely defensive, but the Putin message signals a dramatic escalation in the geopolitical standoff.
Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would use every weapon, including nuclear, to defend Kaliningrad if it were attacked.
He said Moscow was not threatening anyone and was simply responding to Western claims of preparing for war in 2029‑2030.
The Kremlin has accused NATO of staging naval manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea that threaten Kaliningrad, and warned of a direct blockade that could trigger a nuclear reply.
Hybrid warfare incidents have surged in recent months – a Russian helicopter flew over Polish airspace and drones entered Lithuanian airspace, sparking alarm among local officials.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned his country was bracing for further hybrid attacks after an armed drone was found on the Leipzig tarmac near Ukrainian cargo planes.
Putin added that while the West owns nuclear weapons, Russia’s arsenal is unparalleled and would be deployed immediately if any aggression against its territory is launched.
He urged NATO to explain that its exercises are defensive and that the Kremlin’s warnings are not a call for war, but a deterrence statement.
Putin’s speech also criticised the use of artificial intelligence and automation in warfare, calling the escalation a slide back to barbarity.
For more context, see the article on the Polish helicopter incident: Poland said a Russian helicopter and the Lithuania drone report: Lithuania says population feels constantly threatened.
