President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia would consider using the whole range of weapons in its arsenal if its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad was threatened.

Speaking at the Valdai Forum of international Russia experts in Moscow, Putin said Russia did not plan to attack anyone but would respond in the face of aggression.

Earlier Russia has warned NATO it would be ready to resort to nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to cut off Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave that borders the Baltic Sea.

In a document sent to NATO and seen by Reuters, Moscow accused the alliance of a "dangerous and reckless course" that entailed "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict."

The document said this included the possibility of "Russian strikes against decision-making centres in the alliance's member states right from the outset."

"Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should NATO countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the rest of the country," the diplomatic note said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 1, 2026) (RUSSIAN POOL - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SPEAKING AT VALDAY DISCUSSION CLUB EVENT

2. DISCUSSION MODERATOR FYODOR LUKYANOV ASKING QUESTION

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"We do not scare anyone, and what you just said, and the statement by (the Russian) Foreign ministry, and the letters the Foreign ministry sent to some countries - all this is not threatening. This is a response to an attempt to scare us."

4. AUDIENCE LISTENING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"These statements by the Western politicians, the European politicians on necessity and possibility, and preparation for a war with Russia in 2029 of 2030.It is not us who say so. This is what we hear from the other side, (OVER WIDE OF EVENT) and constantly."

6.AUDIENCE LISTENING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"(OVER WIDE OF EVENT) And then (follow)concrete actions, the drills in the Baltic Sea, following one another. Then the attempts to arrest our ships and vessels. (OVER ANCHOR LISTENING) All this is an escalation, which I have just mentioned in my speech. All this is an escalation. (OVER WIDE OF EVENT) And then we began to hear statements regarding the Kaliningrad region. The statement by Foreign ministry and those letters which were sent, have it right: If it comes to direct attack against the Russian Federation, in this case on Kaliningrad and possibly some other territories, (IN SHOT) of course the issue of using all weapons in our country's arsenal will inevitably and unavoidably emerge on the agenda. This is unavoidable."

8. ANCHOR LISTENING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"NATO Secretary General (Mark Rutte) said that the population of European males is 300 million. Yes, exactly due to this fact it is unavoidable for us to consider the use all forces and means at our disposal. Why? For one, we understand that we will be facing an enemy twice as numerous as we are. This is a large economic potential, large military potential. We will not have so many forces and means to oppose this threat. And we will be forced to use our competitive advantages in this fight."

10. AUDIENCE LISTENING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"What are these advantages? (OVER ANCHOR LISTENING) In those means of the self defence (OVER AUDIENCE) we do have the competitive advantages. Yes, of course, France and Great Britain are both nuclear powers. We are well aware of this (IN SHOT), but nobody now has the means of destruction which are in Russia's possession. And this is our competitive advantage."

11. EVENT IN PROGRESS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:

"How can we oppose the aggressor? We do not threaten anyone. We simply say that we do not have so many tools for self defence. By the way, the statement by the (Russian) foreign ministry does not mention use of nuclear weapons. It mentions, as I just said, the use of all forces and means at our country's disposal. And we will decide which form it will take."

13. EVENT IN PROGRESS