Putin warns Russia could use ‘all weapons’ if Kaliningrad is attacked
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West, saying Moscow is prepared to use “all weapons” in its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad comes under direct attack. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow on October 1, Putin said Russia had no plans to attack any European country but would respond to what he described as Western aggression. Kaliningrad, a heavily militarized Russian territory, is located between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Putin’s remarks came amid heightened tensions over the region following recent NATO military exercises in the Baltic Sea. NATO, the UK, and several European countries have also accused Russia of conducting hybrid operations, including cyberattacks, sabotage, and espionage, aimed at undermining support for Ukraine. These tensions reflect a dramatic deterioration in relations between Moscow and NATO, with the two sides increasingly resembling the adversaries of the Cold War. NATO leaders view Russia as a direct security threat, while repeated warnings and condemnations from the Alliance have so far done little to ease tensions with the Kremlin. So, how did a once more constructive relationship between NATO and Russia become so fractious? Click through this gallery to explore the key events that drove the two sides apart.
