Rutte Urges Calm After Russian Nuclear Warning Over Kaliningrad

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged allies to remain calm after Russia warned that a NATO attempt to strike or blockade its Kaliningrad exclave could prompt a response involving nuclear weapons. Speaking at the Euronews Defence and Space Summit in Brussels on September 30, Rutte said he saw no imminent threat to NATO territory and called on Moscow to stop issuing nuclear threats. The Russian warning, described in reports as a diplomatic note circulated to NATO members, said Moscow would respond if the alliance tried to strike, blockade or isolate Kaliningrad. The sources do not establish that NATO is preparing such action, and the note’s full wording was not provided. Rutte said Russia could not win a direct conflict with NATO and urged allies to continue investing in their defenses while avoiding alarm. He said NATO would detect signs of a military buildup and respond if necessary. His remarks followed Russian statements that any military action against Russian territory could be met with all means at Moscow’s disposal, including nuclear weapons.