- Category
- World
“I Don't Take This Seriously”: NATO Chief Rutte Dismisses Russia’s Nuclear Threat Over Kaliningrad
Prefer U24 Media on Google
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte dismissed Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons if NATO members attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region, saying he does not consider the threat credible and stressing that NATO remains a defensive alliance.
Rutte made the remarks on September 30 while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Euronews Defence & Space Summit 2026 in Brussels.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
The NATO chief declined to disclose details of an unofficial letter reportedly sent by Moscow containing the threats, saying he was not authorized to make its contents public. He said, however, that NATO had responded directly and clearly to Russia.
Rutte stressed that NATO is a defensive alliance and called on Russia to end its nuclear threats, describing them as inappropriate and unhelpful. He also urged Moscow to end its war against Ukraine, which he described “unprovoked war of aggression.”
Asked whether there was a genuine risk that Russia could use nuclear weapons against NATO members, including the Baltic states, Rutte said there was not.
“Putin knows that he can never win from NATO. So I don't take this that serious. But of course, we had to reply and make clear to him that NATO is a defensive alliance, as I said, and stop the war in Ukraine and stop the nuclear threats because it's not helpful,” he stated.
He reiterated that Russia should end its war against Ukraine and stop issuing nuclear threats, saying such rhetoric serves no constructive purpose.
Rutte also stressed that NATO members must continue strengthening their own defense capabilities while maintaining support for Ukraine despite threats from the Kremlin.
According to the NATO chief, Moscow is using such messages and broader hybrid activities in an attempt to divide NATO members and divert their attention from Ukraine.
“What Putin tries to do… is to divide us and and lose the focus on Ukraine. We will not. So every hybrid whatever happens in Europe will be met with more support for Ukraine, not less support for Ukraine,” Rutte added.
Russia privately warned NATO that it could resort to nuclear weapons if the Alliance sought to isolate Kaliningrad, Russia’s heavily militarized exclave located between Poland and Lithuania, Reuters reported on September 30.
In a diplomatic note reviewed by Reuters, Moscow accused NATO of following what it described as a “dangerous and reckless course,” warning that such actions carried a significant risk of triggering a direct military confrontation.
The reported warning comes amid mounting concerns over Russian hybrid activities across Europe, including sabotage, arson, cyberattacks, and other hostile operations that European governments have attributed to Moscow.
Some countries in the region, meanwhile, are taking steps to strengthen critical infrastructure against potential drone attacks and sabotage. Lithuania is preparing enhanced security measures for the planned Gizai power substation near Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
Located about 30 kilometers west of Kaliningrad, the substation is set to feature reinforced fencing capable of resisting a vehicle carrying explosives, sensors designed to detect possible underground tunnels, and concrete barriers intended to protect transformers from drone strikes.
Discuss this article:
-4a56a6b482ec132402c16ef6fcabf9a2.png)
-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
-111f0e5095e02c02446ffed57bfb0ab1.jpeg "Photo of Roman Kohanets")