Russia's nuclear warning NATO rejects the threat

Sep 29

RTVE reports a Russian diplomatic note threatening use of the full arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if Russian territory is attacked or NATO isolates Kaliningrad, the Baltic territory between Poland and Lithuania. Moscow describes the note as a reminder responding to increased regional exercises. Mariana Gancedo relays NATO's condemnation of threats of force and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its written response that the alliance is defensive and its exercises pose no risk to Russia. In an interview, Mark Rutte says there is no imminent threat and calls for calm because NATO is stronger. No actual blockade, attack or deployment decision is reported.

Oman News reports NATO condemning Russian threats of escalation around Kaliningrad. It attributes to Mark Rutte the position that NATO is defensive and poses no threat to Russia, a call to avoid destabilization, and a pledge to defend member territory. The source says Moscow accuses NATO of escalation and attributes threats to the Russian president. No actual attack or changed deployment is established. RTVE's September 30 account describes a Russian diplomatic note with a conditional nuclear warning and attributes NATO's condemnation to its spokeswoman. It says NATO has answered in writing that it is defensive and that its exercises pose no risk to Russia. The Russian note is separately identified, and Rutte's later interview comment about no imminent threat remains within the complete RTVE story without redating the September 29 written response.