Russia has warned that it will take a “rigid response” to any actions that threaten its sovereignty or target civilians in Kaliningrad, as tensions between Moscow and NATO continue to rise.
Russian Foreign Ministry ambassador-at-large Rodion Miroshnik said Thursday that any threat to Russia’s sovereignty or deliberate attack on its civilian population, including in Kaliningrad, would trigger a response aimed at protecting the country and its people.
Miroshnik stressed that Kaliningrad would receive the same protection as any other Russian region. When asked whether a possible blockade of the territory would cross a Russian red line, he repeated that any action against Russian civilians would be viewed as a threat to national sovereignty.
The comments follow earlier Russian warnings that nuclear weapons could be considered if NATO attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea between NATO members Poland and Lithuania.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the alliance had received a message from Russia but did not reveal its contents. He called on Moscow to end its nuclear threats and reiterated that NATO considers itself a defensive alliance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ordered steps to strengthen Kaliningrad’s security. Kremlin adviser Nikolai Patrushev warned that Russia would deliver an immediate and appropriate response to any aggressive action.
Meanwhile, Miroshnik was asked about Russia’s position on candidates to become the next UN secretary-general. He declined to identify which candidates Moscow considered more or less acceptable but said Russia hoped the next secretary-general would take a different approach from current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Guterres’ second term is scheduled to end on December 31, with his successor expected to begin the role in January 2027.
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