Russia sends nuclear warning to Nato over its Kaliningrad enclave

Russia has issued a stark warning to NATO, threatening to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempts to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave bordering the Baltic Sea. In a diplomatic note sent to NATO, Moscow accused the alliance of embarking on a "dangerous and reckless course" that could lead to "direct armed conflict," including the possibility of striking "decision-making centres in the alliance’s member states right from the outset."

Moscow emphasized its readiness to employ the "entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons" to defend its territory against any Nato actions aimed at isolating Kaliningrad. NATO responded, asserting its commitment to a defensive alliance focused on countering threats to its members and urging Russia to cease its "reckless behavior" towards its allies.

The warning comes amid escalating tensions since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with European governments accusing Moscow of escalating a "hybrid war" through acts like sabotage and arson. The incident marks the first time since the Cold War that Russia has threatened NATO with nuclear weapons, raising concerns of a potential miscalculation between the two blocs.