Putin warns West against Kaliningrad escalation at Valdai Forum
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Valdai Forum in Moscow on Thursday that the world is living through a dangerous moment and warned the West not to escalate over Ukraine by threatening Kaliningrad. He said Russia would deploy all weapons at its disposal, including nuclear ones, if the exclave were attacked. Putin also reiterated that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine and had no plans to attack any European country.
Key Facts
- Putin said Russia would deploy all weapons at its disposal, including nuclear ones, if Kaliningrad were attacked.
- Putin stated that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine and was forced to defend itself with arms.
- Putin recalled that Ukraine declared itself a neutral state upon independence but later added NATO membership to its constitution.
- Putin said Russia faces an enemy, NATO, twice its size, but possesses weapons no other country has.
- Putin warned that international conflicts are likely to continue as old legal norms are abolished and new ones have not yet emerged.
Kaliningrad Warning
Putin warned the West not to escalate the standoff over Ukraine by threatening the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, wedged between Poland and Lithuania. He said that if Kaliningrad or other Russian territories were directly attacked, the question of deploying all weapons at Russia's disposal would inevitably and immediately be on the agenda. Putin added that Russia has no plans to attack any European country and wants to coexist peacefully. He noted that France and Britain are nuclear powers, but no one else possesses the kind of weapons Russia has today.
Ukraine Conflict Stance
Putin said Russia was deliberately placed in a situation where it was forced to defend itself with arms and respond to aggression. He insisted that Russia did not want war and did not start it, but rather war was started against Russia. Putin recalled that Ukraine's independence declaration stated it was a neutral state, but later the country added the goal of NATO membership to its constitution. He said this change was a different story from Russia's security perspective and one of the reasons for the ongoing conflict.
Global Security Outlook
Putin opened his speech by calling for preserving global peace and security in conditions where many old legal norms have been abolished and new ones have not yet emerged. He said changes are occurring in all spheres, including technology, social structure, military affairs, digitalization, and the economy. Putin warned that the probability of continued international conflicts is high, as major changes and opportunities encourage readiness to take risks for large gains. He said the principle 'might makes right' seems to be a priority for some global players, but it never leads to good.
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