NATO has hit back at Russia after Moscow warned it could deploy nuclear weapons to defend the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad against any perceived threat from the alliance. In a strongly worded response, NATO denounced the threats as 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric' and reiterated that it is a defensive alliance.
Russia's warning to NATO
Russia sent a letter to NATO stating that it would be ready to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries attempted to isolate the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country. The letter accused NATO of being 'dangerous and reckless' in its approach to the region.
NATO responded directly to Moscow, saying: 'We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.' The alliance added: 'We have sent a response, noting that NATO is a defensive Alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia.'
Fictional series sparks tension
The Russian warning follows the premiere of a new Sky One miniseries, The Wargame, which centres on a fictional Russian attack against the UK. In the five-part show, the UK prime minister orders a retaliatory strike on Murmansk and Kaliningrad, a strategically valuable Russian territory between Poland and Lithuania.
In a post on its official Telegram channel, the Russian embassy in the UK said: 'We have noted an article in The i Paper on Kaliningrad, which suggests, among other things, that NATO could blockade the region or de-recognise Russian sovereignty. The prospect of a hypothetical strike is also explored in Sky News' recent mini-series The Wargame.'
The embassy added: 'Those advocating plans to blockade or strike Kaliningrad should have no illusions about the consequences. Any British or NATO military action against Russian territory would be met with a response using all means at Russia's disposal, including nuclear weapons.'
Russia has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons if NATO and other European countries continue to 'threaten' its territory. The embassy insisted Russia does not seek confrontation with NATO or Europe, but warned that any attempt to unleash such a conflict would be met with a proportional response.
