Russia is intensifying its warnings towards Europe, after Moscow informed NATO that it is prepared to resort to nuclear weapons if the Alliance attempts to isolate the Kaliningrad region.
The spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, claims that Europe is being pushed towards a potential conflict with Russia and accuses NATO states of expanding their military infrastructure and practicing scenarios that could involve blocking the Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea.
The statement was published by the Russian Embassy in Romania, presenting it as Zakharova's response to a nuclear warning issued a day earlier by the Russian Embassy in Ireland.
"The Russophobic hysteria of the revanchist circles in the West has reached its peak. Some 'hotheads' are systematically pushing Europe towards a potential conflict, laying the groundwork for escalating tensions. Ordinary Europeans are intimidated with apocalyptic scenarios and so-called 'hybrid' threats allegedly coming from our country," Zakharova states.
Moscow Accuses NATO of Preparing Scenarios Against Kaliningrad
The spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks of the "total militarization" of Europe, the increase in defense spending, and the expansion of NATO infrastructure.
"Aggressive exercises by allies are taking place in the immediate vicinity of our borders, within which offensive scenarios against our country are being practiced, including a possible blockade of the Kaliningrad region, isolating Russian ports on the Baltic Sea, as well as the transfer of allied troops through the Suwałki corridor," Zakharova asserts.
However, NATO rejects the accusation of preparing an attack on Russian territory and states that its exercises are defensive in nature.
Several allied exercises have taken place in the region in recent months. In August, NATO conducted an aerial exercise over northeastern Poland, near Kaliningrad, involving American and Norwegian aircraft, an AWACS aircraft, and aircraft for refueling and electronic warfare. The Polish command specified at the time that the exercise was planned and aimed to improve cooperation between allied forces.
The Suwałki Corridor, a strip of territory between Poland and Lithuania located between Kaliningrad and Belarus, holds significant strategic importance for NATO: it represents the only land link between the Baltic States and the rest of the Alliance territory.
Statements of European Leaders Invoked by Zakharova
Zakharova accuses European leaders of openly discussing a possible conflict with Russia.
"Some European leaders dare to publicly talk about the possibility of 'wiping off the face of the earth' the Russian anti-aircraft defense bases and missile systems in the Kaliningrad region," she states.
The reference seems to target, among others, statements made in May by the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys. He stated that NATO must show Moscow that it has the capacity to neutralize Russian systems in Kaliningrad in case of a conflict.
Zakharova also mentions the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, whom she says "dreams of provoking a military defeat of Russia."
In September, Sikorski declared at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kiev that if Russia were to attack NATO, the Alliance forces could defeat Russia quickly due to air superiority. "If Russia were to attack us and we didn't take off our gloves, I think we would beat Russia fairly quickly," the Polish minister said, according to The Independent.
In the same speech, Zakharova accuses the Estonian Minister of Defense of speaking about the advantages of a "preventive" war with Russia.
"These politicians, and not only them, have come to believe that war will be fought exclusively with those means in which NATO, in their opinion, holds an advantage. These people need to be brought back down to earth," says the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.
"It Will Be a Completely Different War and It Will Be a Very Short One"
Zakharova asserts that Russia does not intend to attack European states but warns that Moscow has the means to respond to any aggression.
"We hope that our warnings will be heard by those to whom they are addressed. As the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, stated, our country does not threaten and does not intend to threaten European states. But no one should doubt that Russia has all the capabilities necessary to prevent any aggression and to defeat any aggressor. If Europe attacks Russia, it will already be a completely different war - and it will be a very short one," concludes Maria Zakharova.
Where the Nuclear Warning Originated
Russia recently sent a clear warning to NATO regarding Kaliningrad. The Russian Embassy in Ireland stated that Moscow would be prepared to use its "entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons," if NATO states attempted to isolate Kaliningrad from the rest of Russia. Similar messages have been transmitted by other Russian embassies in Europe.
However, the warning was not limited to the public communication of embassies. Reuters has seen a document sent by Russia to NATO, in which Moscow accuses the Alliance of following a "dangerous and ill-considered course," which would create a high risk of direct military conflict.
NATO has rejected Moscow's accusations and demanded that Russia cease nuclear threats. The Secretary-General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte, stated on Wednesday that NATO is a defensive alliance and its activities do not threaten Russia. When asked if Moscow's warning means that the risk of using nuclear weapons against the Baltic States has become real, Rutte replied: "No."
He said that NATO must remain calm but prepared, and reiterated that the Alliance will defend "every inch" of its territory.