Russia threatens NATO countries with nuclear weapons: "No room for mistakes"

The Russian embassy in Ireland issued a severe warning to Western countries: if they attempt to cut off the Kaliningrad exclave, Russia will use its nuclear arsenal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened that Moscow would respond with a "completely different, and very short war." The warning comes amid a resurgence of Russian nuclear rhetoric towards Europe.

The Russian embassy in Ireland issued a severe warning to Western countries, stating that if they attempt to cut off the Kaliningrad exclave from the rest of Russia, Moscow will use its nuclear arsenal. The statement said that "there is no room for mistakes – Russia will be ready to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons." The warning comes amid a resurgence of Russian nuclear rhetoric towards Europe. The Russian embassy in the UK issued a similar warning on September 29. The embassy claimed that the European Union and NATO are increasing military activity along Russia's western border, and cited "information" – without providing evidence – that NATO is preparing to impose an air and sea blockade on the Kaliningrad region. The embassy quoted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said that if the West attacks Russia, Moscow will respond with a "completely different, and very short war." The UK has previously condemned Moscow's nuclear messages as a destabilizing factor. Western officials have expressed concern over increasing Russian hybrid operations against NATO members.