Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would use all available weapons, including nuclear arms, if Kaliningrad or other Russian territories come under direct attack, emphasizing a defensive stance rather than a threat.
• Putin accused NATO of preparing to blockade Kaliningrad and conducting naval maneuvers in the Baltic Sea, which he described as serious threats, and reiterated Russia's readiness to respond forcefully to any aggression.
• He blamed Western countries for provoking the conflict in Ukraine, justifying Russia's military actions as defensive responses to Ukrainian strikes on Russian economic and energy infrastructure.
• NATO officials denied posing any threat to Russia and criticized Kremlin rhetoric as unhelpful, while Lithuania and Poland expressed concerns about Russian military provocations near their borders.
• Putin highlighted the catastrophic potential of nuclear weapons globally, suggesting that the existence of such arms makes their eventual use a possibility, reflecting ongoing tensions and the risk of escalation.