Putin says all weapons possible if Kaliningrad attacked

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia would consider using “all types of weapons” if its Kaliningrad exclave was attacked, while insisting Moscow had no intention of attacking anyone.

“If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation,” the question of using all types of weapons at Russia's disposal would “inevitably and immediately be on the agenda,” Putin told the annual Valdai forum.

His remarks came after NATO condemned what it called Russia's “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” over Kaliningrad, a heavily militarised Russian territory that borders Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea.

Russia's embassy in Belgium had contacted NATO to complain about what it called provocative statements and actions by alliance leaders and member states concerning Kaliningrad. The embassy said Russia was ready to deploy its entire arsenal to defend its territory if NATO countries tried to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia.

NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said the alliance was defensive and that none of its activities or exercises posed a risk to any part of Russia. She said NATO denounced the threat of force, including irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.

Putin on Thursday criticised what he called successive military exercises in the Baltic Sea and attempts to intercept Russian vessels. “All this constitutes an escalation,” he said.

“We have no intention of attacking anyone — neither in 2029, nor in 2030, nor in 2050,” Putin said. He added that Russia would respond if it faced aggression.