NATO countries are already rehearsing specific scenarios in the Baltic Sea for blockading the Kaliningrad region, alongside plans for the military and political isolation of Russian ports in the country’s northwest, including St. Petersburg. This was stated by Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control.

Speaking at a plenary meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, the diplomat compared developments in the Baltic region with the situation in the Black Sea. She said that while the Black Sea has already become a full-fledged arena of military confrontation, NATO countries have begun practical rehearsals in the Baltic of scenarios targeting Russian territory and ports.

Zhdanova also drew attention to statements by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. In her assessment, his call for NATO to intensify military exercises near the border of the Kaliningrad region demonstrates the alliance’s intention to further escalate tensions around the Russian exclave.

In response, the Russian representative called on the Polish delegation to explain at future meetings how such appeals are consistent with the principles of responsible conduct by an OSCE participating State in reducing military risks.

As a reminder, Yulia Zhdanova previously warned that NATO countries are preparing to launch a direct war against Russia no later than 2029–2030.