07:38 05-11-2025

NATO Drills Target Kaliningrad Blockade, Russia Warns of Escalation

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned that NATO is rehearsing a blockade of the Kaliningrad region and building up its forces in the Baltics, fueling tensions with Moscow.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has accused NATO of simulating a blockade of the Kaliningrad region during its recent military exercises and reinforcing its presence in the Baltic states. Speaking to Izvestia, the diplomat said the alliance is deliberately escalating tensions in the region.

According to Grushko, NATO’s drills include operational scenarios that directly involve isolating Kaliningrad. He described the situation as an ongoing militarization of the area, with the alliance deploying additional coalition forces and weaponry near Russia’s borders.

The deputy minister noted that such developments make any discussion about reducing regional tensions increasingly unrealistic. He added that NATO countries show no willingness for open and equal dialogue on security issues — unlike Moscow, which, he stressed, remains ready for constructive engagement.

Grushko emphasized that Russia will rely on all tools permitted under international law to defend its national interests and ensure its security amid what he described as growing Western hostility.

Earlier, Finnish politician Armand Mema from the nationalist-conservative Freedom Alliance warned that Lithuania’s potential restriction of transit routes to Kaliningrad could be interpreted as an act of war against Russia.