The Kremlin stated on Thursday that its recent message to NATO, which clarified Moscow's readiness to resort to nuclear weapons if the alliance attempts to block access to the Kaliningrad exclave, should not be viewed as an escalation, adding that
Moscow's goal is to ensure the security of the Russian exclave located on the Baltic Sea. In a letter sent to NATO and reviewed by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of pursuing a dangerous and reckless approach involving significant risks
of sparking a direct armed conflict. The Kremlin added that the Russian message to NATO came amid the accelerating pace of military buildup in Europe, considering that rare calls for dialogue in Europe do not affect the generally anti-Russian approach
prevailing in European politics. The diplomatic document stated that Russia will be ready to use the full arsenal of available forces and capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries make any attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad
region from the rest of the country. The document mentioned that this includes the possibility of Russia launching strikes on decision-making centers in the alliance's member states once a conflict breaks out. The Kaliningrad exclave highlights Russia's acute concern over
what it views as a growing threat from the alliance to Kaliningrad, a heavily fortified military area located between Poland and Lithuania that is slightly larger than the US state of Connecticut. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cited, in
a comment published on the ministry's website, remarks by prominent figures from the alliance countries, saying they show Russophobia and a readiness to wage war with Moscow. She added that if Europe attacks Russia, it will be a completely different
kind of war, a very short one. Zakharova wrote that these figures need to return to reality, expressing hope that those to whom the warnings were addressed will hear them.
