NATO denies plans to blockade Kaliningrad and demands Russia halt nuclear threats

The North Atlantic Alliance officially denied plans to isolate the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. In response to Moscow's warnings about the possible use of nuclear weapons in the event of such an attempt, NATO representatives emphasised that their actions are exclusively defensive and not directed against Russian territory.

Alliance response to Russian warnings

As reported by Reuters, which obtained access to the relevant document, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation provided a written reaction to an unofficial letter from the Russian side. In this letter, Moscow warned that it was ready to use its entire arsenal, including tactical and strategic nuclear weapons, if NATO member states attempted to separate Kaliningrad from the mainland part of Russia. The Russian document also mentioned the possibility of striking decision-making centres in Alliance states from the very beginning of a potential conflict.

NATO categorically rejected such scenarios. The relevant statement emphasises that the Alliance is not taking any actions that could pose a threat to Russia's security.

«НАТО — це оборонний Альянс. Жодні навчання чи дії НАТО не становлять загрози для території Російської Федерації» ("NATO is a defensive Alliance. No NATO exercises or actions pose a threat to the territory of the Russian Federation"), the Alliance's response reads.

Call to end aggression

Meanwhile, the North Atlantic Alliance addressed Moscow with a demand to end the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. NATO representatives expressed concern that Russia's behaviour towards Alliance member states is becoming increasingly risky and irresponsible.

The Alliance paid particular attention to the Kremlin's nuclear rhetoric, calling it unacceptable.

«Ми настійно закликаємо РФ утримуватися від дедалі більш безрозсудної поведінки щодо країн-членів Альянсу та припинити свою безвідповідальну ядерну риторику» ("We strongly urge the Russian Federation to refrain from increasingly reckless behaviour towards Alliance member states and to stop its irresponsible nuclear rhetoric"), NATO stated.