Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said he does not take Russia’s nuclear threats over Kaliningrad seriously and that there is no immediate threat to Alliance territory.
Rutte stressed that Nato has prepared and planned actions to defend every inch of its territory, Euronews reports.
If anything happens, the bloc is ready to respond, the Nato chief stressed. The statement comes amid media reports that Russia allegedly sent the Alliance a letter warning against attempts to cut Kaliningrad off from its mainland. Moscow said it was ready to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons.
The Nato Secretary General declined to confirm the contents of the letter and said Russia itself should disclose it. He also dismissed the idea of a real nuclear threat or escalation against the Baltic states, stressing that Putin will never be able to defeat the Alliance.
Rutte also said that Russia is losing 43,000 troops a month at the front, killed or seriously wounded. He emphasised that Kyiv feels much better than a year ago, and that allies continue to provide military support.
The Nato chief urged people to remain calm, continue supporting Ukraine and increase investment in defence. He said Russia is resorting to threats only because the war in Ukraine is going badly for it, and Moscow is seeking to split allies and distract them.
- Reuters reported that Russia accused the Alliance of a “dangerous and reckless course” which, in its view, creates a high risk of direct armed conflict. Moscow also raised the possibility of strikes on decision-making centres in Nato member states from the very start of any potential conflict.