Putin Warns West to Use Nuclear Weapons if Kaliningrad Is Cut Off

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the Western world that Moscow is prepared to deploy every weapon in its arsenal, including nuclear options, should NATO attempt to blockade or directly attack Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad. Speaking at a Valdai forum and addressing international leaders, Putin stated that while he does not threaten any European nation, an escalation involving direct aggression against the region would force his hand. He cited recent military drills by NATO near Kaliningrad alongside incidents such as drone incursions into Poland's airspace and sabotage attempts in Germany as evidence of Western hostility. In response to these actions described as hybrid warfare, Putin emphasized that if Kaliningrad comes under attack or is cut off from the rest of Russia, using all available weapons would become an unavoidable necessity for Moscow.