Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has no plans to attack European countries, but warned that Moscow would respond strongly if Russian territory, including the Kaliningrad region, came under direct attack.
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Putin said Russia wanted peaceful relations with European countries. At the same time, he warned that Moscow would consider using all weapons available to it, including nuclear weapons, if Russia itself were attacked.
Kaliningrad is a strategically important Russian territory located between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Russia has significant military assets in the region. Putin said Moscow was aware of NATO’s military strength and the nuclear capabilities of France and the UK. He also said Russia believed it had military capabilities that could provide an advantage in a confrontation.
The comments came after Russia warned NATO that it could use nuclear weapons if the alliance attempted to isolate or blockade Kaliningrad. NATO has rejected the suggestion that it is planning such an action and has described itself as a defensive alliance. NATO officials have also criticised Russia’s nuclear rhetoric.
Putin also said Russia would continue attacking Ukrainian targets in the Black Sea region. He claimed that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries had reduced Russia’s GDP by around 1%. Reuters reported that Putin said Moscow was responding to those attacks but was not planning to immediately strike European factories producing weapons for Ukraine.
The latest statements come amid continued tensions between Russia, Ukraine and NATO. Both Moscow and NATO have accused the other side of escalating the situation, while each maintains that it does not want a direct conflict between Russia and the alliance.
